As the goddess of love, sex, and romance, Aphrodite is at work when two lovers come together. As we learn about her, it is natural at some point for us to wonder about her own love life. In this article, we are going to answer the question: Who did Aphrodite Sleep with?
The Greek goddess Aphrodite had many lovers, including gods and mortals, Most notably, she was lovers with Ares, the god of war, and together they had many children. She was also lovers with her ugly husband Hephaestus, the god of forges, Poseidon, Hermes, Dionysus, and a mortal named Anchises.
Aphrodite was highly desired by the all of the gods because she was the most beautiful goddess, but in a strange twist of fate, she was actually married to the ugliest of all the gods.
Aphrodite was Married to Hephaestus
After emerging from the sea in her unusual birth, she became the most beautiful creature in the world. One of Aphrodite’s many admirers was Hephaestus, the son of Hera and Zeus, a hunchbacked and resentful god, who was the god of forges, blacksmiths, and artisans.
Hephaestus was so ugly that when he was born he was expelled from Olympus, which is where the gods lived, by his own mother. After trapping his mother in a magical throne that he built, to keep the peace, Zeus determined that Aphrodite would marry Hephaestus.
Despite being married Aphrodite had many other lovers. According to the Odyssey by Homer, Hephaestus caught her having an affair with Ares, the god of war.
Aphrodite was Lovers with Ares the God of War
After falling deeply in love with Aphrodite, Ares pursued her with gifts and compliments. The goddess of love and the god of war began a long affair, spending nights together while her husband was away at his workshop. Together, Aphrodite and Ares conceived many children including Phobos, Harmonia, Aeneas and Eros the god of romantic love.
They were so intent on keeping their affair secret that Ares even had a helper named Alectryon to guard them and prevent anyone from seeing them together. One day Alectryon fell asleep while guarding Aphrodite’s bedroom, where she was sleeping with Ares, and their affair was discovered.
Hephaestus was deeply embittered, and sought revenge. He crafted a gold net of threads that was so fine it was not visible and placed it on the bed. When Aphrodite and Ares returned to bed they were trapped in the net, and Hephaestus summoned all of the gods to witness the affair. At this point it was forbidden for the two lovers to see each other, although they continued to in secret.
Aphrodite had a Mortal Lover Named Anchises
The most important of Aphrodite’s mortal lovers was a shepherd named Anchises, who was a member of the Trojan royal family. Together they conceived Aeneas, and Adonis, who was renowned for his good looks. Zeus caused Aphrodite to fell in love with Anchises as punishment for her causing gods to fall in love with mortals, which was considered a foolish thing to do by the gods. Aphrodite seduced Anchises, telling him she was a Phrygian princess. Only nine months later, after she presented their first child to him, did Anchises learn that she was actually a goddess. He was unable to boast of being the lover of a goddess, and as punishment Zeus crippled him with a thunderbolt.
Aphrodite Slept with Poseidon After He Fell in Love with Her
Another of Aphrodite’s lovers was Poseidon, the god of the sea. After Aphrodite’s affair with Ares was revealed to the other gods, Poseidon was supportive of Aphrodite in her difficult situation. Poseidon, a prolific seducer in his own right, fell in love with Aphrodite after catching a glimpse of her naked, and the two of them had a romantic affair. Together they had two daughters, named Rhodos and Herophilos.
Aphrodite, Paris, and the Golden Apple
The goddess Eris was barred entry from a party, she tossed a golden apple amongst the other goddesses. Written on the apple were the words “To the Fairest”, and the goddesses Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena all wanted it. To resolve the situation, Zeus decided that a mortal named Paris would pick who got the apple.
The three goddesses each visited Paris to tell him why they were the most beautiful goddess and the most deserving of the golden apple. Each one offered Paris a reward if he chose them, Hera offered him power. Athena offered him fame and wisdom. Aphrodite offered Paris the love of the most beautiful mortal woman in the world, and Paris chose Aphrodite. The woman he chose was Helen, and when he stole her and took her to Troy, he started the Trojan War.
Aphrodite’s Birth and Parents
Aphrodite’s birth is detailed the literary work Theogony, written by Hesiod at around 700 BC. Uranus and Gaia had a son named Cronus. When the parents fought, Gaia created a sickle and gave it to her son to attack her husband. Cronus used the sickle to attack and severe the genitals of his father Uranus, and throwing them into the ocean. This caused the ocean to foam, and out of the white foam that was produced Aphrodite arose. She was born in Cyprus, but moved to Cythera before gaining prominence.
An alternative version of Aphrodite’s birth is described in Homer’s Iliad. In the great literary work, Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
Aphrodite was Known as Venus to the Romans
The planet Venus is 260 million km from Earth. It is the hottest planet in our solar system, with 462 C surface temperatures, and over 1500 active volcanoes covering its surface. Venus is the only planet in our system to be named after a female figure. It can be seen by the naked eye at both dusk and dawn, and because of this the ancient Greeks had two names for Venus. They called the planet Phosphorus in the morning, and Hesperus at night. Later they named it Aphrodite in honor of their most beautiful goddess.
Symbols of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite
There are many symbols that present Aphrodite, and can be placed as talismanic decorations to attract the energy of Aphrodite into your life. Most of them are associated with events in her life, and especially with her special birth. Symbols for Aphrodite include:
- Seashells and the ocean
- Dolphins, swans, doves, and sparrows
- Roses, apples, mint, grapes
- myrtle (a small shrub), laurel, ash, and poplar trees
- Pearls, gold, rose quartz, sapphire
Frequently Asked Questions About Aphrodite
What is Aphrodite known for?
She was primarily known as the goddess of love, fertility, and occasionally marriage, as well as at times regarded as goddess of the sea.
What did Aphrodite look like?
The Greeks usually depicted Aphrodite as a young beautiful woman in their status and artwork. In the art world she has come to be synonymous with perfect symmetry. She has been featured in many prominent works of art, such as Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch, and The Birth of Venus, by Botticelli.
Recommended Reading
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