Who is Aphrodite?
Q: Who is Aphrodite?
A: Aphrodite is the Ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, and procreation. She was one of the Twelve Olympians and was married to Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking.
Q: How did Aphrodite come into existence?
A: According to Hesiod's Theogony, Aphrodite rose from sea foam formed at the spot where Uranos' genitals landed after Kronos castrated him and tossed them into the sea.
Q: What are some symbols associated with Aphrodite?
A: Symbols associated with Aphrodite include dolphins, myrtle, roses, doves, sparrows, swans and pearls. Doves, sparrows and swans were her sacred animals.
Q: Where was Aphrodite's cult centered?
A: Her cult was centered on the islands of Cythera and Cyprus which were both claimed to be her birthplace.
Q: What festival celebrated annually in midsummer honored Aphrodite?
A: The festival that honored Aphrodite annually in midsummer was called the "Aphrodisia".
Q: Who attended to Aphrodite as handmaidens?
A: The Charites (minor goddesses of grace and splendor) attended to Aphrodite as her handmaidens.
Q: What is the Roman equivalent for Goddess Venus?
A: The Roman equivalent for Goddess Venus is Aphrodite.
