Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, passion, procreation, and fertility. In Roman mythology, she is known as Venus. She is often depicted as the ideal of female beauty and desire. According to Hesiod, Aphrodite was born from the foam produced by Uranus' genitals after his son Cronus castrated him and threw them into the sea. However, Homer suggests she may be the daughter of Zeus and Dione. Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, the god of fire and metalworking, but was frequently unfaithful, most famously with Ares, the god of war.
Aphrodite's symbols include seashells, doves, roses, sparrows, swans, myrtles, and mirrors, each representing aspects of love, beauty, and self-reflection. She played a significant role in Greek mythology, influencing events such as the Trojan War. Today, Aphrodite remains a major figure in Neopagan religions like Wicca and Hellenism. Her image continues to be prevalent in Western art, literature, and contemporary culture, symbolizing female beauty, love, and sexual emancipation. Celebrities and brands invoke her name and image to represent desirability.
