What are the symbols of Aphrodite? Why do these symbols represent her?
What are some interesting myths about Aphrodite? (link please)
Any help would be truly appreciated, as this is a project for my English class.
2006-09-21 13:02:49 · 8 answers · asked by Susie 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
***PLEASE, answer the symbols question...***
2006-09-21 13:15:38 · update #1
http://www.loggia.com/myth/aphrodite.html
http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/lombardiaphrodite/aphrodite.html
These should help. There are many sources. My mouse just went on the fritz or I would post more.
Blessings )O(
http://www.messagenet.com/myths/bios/aphrodite.html
http://www.mythweb.com/gods/Aphrodite.html
http://web.uvic.ca/grs/bowman/myth/gods/aphrodite_i.html
2006-09-21 13:09:12 · answer #1 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Aphrodite was associated with, and often depicted with dolphins, doves, swans, pomegranates, apples, myrtle, rose and lime trees."
Venus was often referred to with epithet Venus Erycina ("of the heather") after Mount Eryx, Sicily, one of the centers of her cult.
...
"Foam-arisen" Aphrodite was born of the sea foam near Paphos, Cyprus after Cronus cut off Uranus' genitals and threw them into the sea spreading his god-like genes. Hesiod's Theogony described that the genitals "were carried over the sea a long time, and white foam arose from the immortal flesh; with it a girl grew" to become Aphrodite. Thus Aphrodite is of an older generation than Zeus." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite)
"Aphrodite's symbols are varying throughout the years. Her tree is the myrtle, her birds the swan, the sparrow, and the dove. She is also very often seen with a mirror. Also sacred to her are the rose, apple (see story of Paris, below), poppy, tortoise, ram, the pomegranate, the lime tree, and the month of April. Other names for Aphrodite include Cytherea and Cypris, in reference to her birth. The stories of Aphrodite are almost exclusively discussion of her lovers, her children, and her games with mortals." (http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~clit387/Worship.html)
A mirror is sometimes said to represent vanity - but also might represent beauty. Since Aphrodite is really a fertility goddess, having April (spring) as her sacred month makes sense. The rose would probably signify love. Doves could signify lovers - like 2 turtle doves.
2006-09-21 18:28:34 · answer #2 · answered by Roswellfan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just off the top of my head:
Aphrodite was the Greek goddes of Love and Passion (Venus in Rome)
She was said to have floated up out of the ocean and rode a platform of bubbles to the land (this makes her one of the few gods not somehow related to Zeus) and she repeated this process every year.
She was a major player in the myth of the golden apple (the start of the trojan war)
An apple was given to Paris, Prince of Troy, by some minor goddes (I've fogotten her name, but she was affileated with Ares and was very spiteful) and he was instructed to give it to the fairest maiden in the world.
This began a compeitition between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite to win the golden apple. Each offered Paris a gift. Hera offered power, Athena offered Wisdom, and Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
Paris eventually choose Aphrodite who immediatly whisked Helen of Troy (the most beautiful woman in the world) away from Greece and gave her to Paris. This sparked the Trojan War
2006-09-21 13:09:41 · answer #3 · answered by DonSoze 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aphrodite is a lovely goddess. In Sumeria she was called Ishtar. You can find a great deal of information on her here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite
So important was her worship that an entire island was named after her: Cythera.
She is associated with:
-dolphins: eroticism
-doves: the soul
-swan: music, the sun
-pomegranates: mystic frenzy
-apples: totality and desire
-myrtle: love and fertility
-rose: completion
-lime trees: healing and protection.
2006-09-22 02:39:47 · answer #4 · answered by Yngona D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She was born when Zeus had some blood dropped into the water. Out came the love goddess with bubbles.
2006-09-21 18:30:13 · answer #5 · answered by missgigglebunny 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ooooooh, ooooh, oooh i did a very very similar project in my history class last year!!! only, i did a dif. greek goddess. but, i went 2 about.com and got great results. i knw dat she is the goddess of love and beauty. i aced my essay, hope u do 2!!!! good luck!
2006-09-21 13:17:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
She left the house with Elvis
2006-09-21 16:40:00 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't know about any symbols, but I know that she was very horny....
2006-09-25 10:00:28 · answer #8 · answered by Matsukaze 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋