Is being like Aphrodite really a bad thing?

Question

Every single personality quiz I do in relation to Greek Goddesses I get Aphrodite. The quiz sites are all like wow this is wonderful, but I always thought that Aphrodite was self centred and conceited. Any help?

I mean she was the Goddess of Prostitution. Thats not a good thing.

Answer 1

The term prostitute was a term used by the early church leaders to discredit all Pagan beliefs and practices. Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love among other things, but NEVER the Goddess of Prostitution.
- In fact, perhaps you are mistakenly connecting Aphrodite with the Vestal Virgins, the women who served in the temple of Vesta and initiated men in the ways of sacred sex. These sacred temple priestesses were referred to as 'temple prostitutes' by those ignorant of the sacred rites and their purposes.
- So, if you are likened to Aphrodite, I would suggest researching and learning more about who she really is. Strong, Honest, Secure in the knowledge of who she is, Grounded in Her sensuality, and unabashedly sexual. To be likened to Aphrodite is indeed a wonderful thing.

Answer 2

Aphrodite was the Greek (or Venus to the Romans) goddess of beauty, love and sexuality. She was a further manifestation of the power of femininity which had long been worshipped in cultures predating the ancient Greeks (e.g. Ishtar, Astarte, Dawn). If you don't think that sounds like you, that is of course your perogative!

As for the negative character traits, there isn't a single deity in the Greek Pantheon who actually has an attractive character. They were nearly without exception vain, proud, selfish, jealous, capricious and short-tempered, just like people. The difference being, they were Gods, with Godlike powers, which they frequently used to aid their favourites at the expense of others, and torment those who had (even unwittingly) upset them (which was easy to do—e.g. Psyche inspired jealousy in Aphrodite simply by exisiting).

Aphrodite was not the Goddess of prostitution by name, although her connection with female sexuality would obviously imply that. However, 'prostitution' was quite common in matriarchal religions predating the Judeo-Christian tradition, in that sex (between unmarried men and women, quite often the priests and priestesses in the temples) was an integral part of fertitility rites, etc.

It's really only in the last 2000 years that 'the oldest profession' has been deemed evil, as such teachings therefore demonised female sexuality and paganism, and helped establish the emergent church(es) at the top of the social pecking order.

The main reason that prostitution in the western world leads to exploitation of women is that as a result of this religious tradition, it is illegal in most countries. Therefore, sex workers have no protection from their 'employers' (i.e. the pimps who keep them, and the men who pay them).

In the Netherlands, where prostitution is a treated as a legitimate (and therefore regulated) industry, the associated problems (underage workers, disease transmission, drug addiction) have been generally reduced (although it has to be admitted that a lot of illegal human trafficking—i.e. effective slavery—goes through Holland).

Answer 3

I think it's a good thing. It means you are embracing your Sexual, and sensual self.

Sounds like you've been watching too many episodes of Xena. It's not that Aphrodite was/is self centered, She's a Goddess. By definition, they are greater than human, so it was a matter of believing she is above human-kind.

Just because someone chooses to have sex for money doesn't automatically make them a bad person, or "evil". It's not even Illegal in most of the world. There are even places in the US where it is legal.

Answer 4

I've always read that she was the Goddess of passionate physical love,sexuality,love and beauty.In some areas mabe of prostitutes,temple prostitutes not what we know today.I'm curious about the quizes you took.I don't think it's a bad thing,the energy and power she represents can be very good in our lives.All depends on how it is used and expressed.Every goddess has a light and dark aspect to her nature,as do we all.I see them as a reflection of ourselves,what it means to be a woman.

Answer 5

Where are you doing those quizzes? I have never seen anything like that and would be interested to try it. I had also been brought up to believe that Aphrodite was the goddess of Love.

Answer 6

No, not at all. She was the goddess of love and sex. Be like Aphrodite. Come on over to my house and we'll talk about it.

Answer 7

Yes, but prostitution to support your family is surely better than dealing drugs or living on the streets? She was also the Goddess of Love and Desire, and yes, some people who are desireable and know it, are conceited and selfish, but they also have their good points. No-one is perfect.

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Answer 8

Depends on which picture of Aphrodite the people who made the quiz have, like all divinities she went through al lot of different forms.
In none of them was she a prostitute.
Aphrodite used to be one name of the Great Mother in her nymph aspect, i.e. the mature, unbound woman who would freely share her love with whomever she liked.
The patriarchal Greeks didn't like that, so she got bad press by their mythographers.
A greek friend of mine is called Aphrodite, do you think her mother would have given her that name if it was bad?

Answer 9

Look, I'm Greek and I think that Afrodite is not the godness of prostitution but the godness of beauty. Though, like all Greek gods she had humanlike passions so as to be simmilar with her people. She did everything to have a man she liked and she became nasty at times. In Greece is a good thing to look like her.

Answer 10

She was the Goddess of LOVE...Never heard she was the Goddess of Prostitution.