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bisexualwannabewriter · 2 years

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“In the Night” - The Sandman (Morpheus, Dream of the Endless x female reader) Chapter One

If you’re a fan of Greek Mythology like me, this one should make you happy :)

Summary : During the day, you’re a young pansexual woman with a confusing past, living with your bestfriend, Vicky, and her young daughter Cecelia. But when night falls, you work as a stripper, nicknamed the “Little Dream” by your faithful clientele... Somewhere else, The Dream Lord Morpheus has escaped from his century long captivity. But what does this have to do with you ? You’ll find out soon enough...

I’ll post all the chapters here. You can also find everything I write here.

(There’s just a bit of swearing in this, otherwise I’d say it’s pretty tame, besides the whole strip club setting... no need for a trigger warning I think.)

Chapter Summary : After a weird dream that leaves you completely disoriented, a peculiar but attractive man you’ve never heard of before asks for you.

"Aglaea, are you listening to me ? Aglaea !"

The strikingly beautiful woman kept repeating this name. Aglaea. The anger distorted her graceful features, and you wondered what you had done to deserve such wrath. She spat the next words, without ever breaking eye contact with you, sending chills down your spine : "What are you doing ? Have you lost your mind ? They're going to find you ! And when they do, there's no telling what horrors they'll do to you. Can you even hear me ?! AGLAEA !" Another voice, coming from your right startled you. You weren't alone. "Thalia, calm down. She can hear you just fine." The other woman, equally as breathtaking as the first one, came closer to you. She wore a reassuring smile that concealed a certain nervousness. "We're just worried about you, sister. Think about what you're doing, for a second, would you ?" She kindly took your hands in hers, inviting you to sit next to her on a stone bench, invaded by climbing ivy.

For the first time, you looked around you. The view almost knocked the breath out of you. There were no words to describe the exquisiteness of your surroundings. It seemed like all of your senses suddenly came back to life, and you felt overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. Waterfalls, strange trees you had never laid eyes on before, firefly like creatures floating all around you... Even the smell was divine.

You knew this place.

Home. It felt like home. You felt a stab in your chest, looking at the face of your sweet sister, her hands still clutching yours. You remembered now; her name was Euphrosyne. She had always been the most patient and gentle of the two. You were the younger of the trio. It was all coming back. You were one of the Charites, or Graces, depending on who you asked. "Think about your daughters.", Euphrosyne said. Four daughters. You had four daughters with Hephaestus. How could you forget about them ? Before you could think too much about it, your older sister added even more problems to your already full plate : "And what would your husband say ? Think about it. Oh, and Aphrodite ? You've always been her favorite ! You know how jealous she gets, when our focus shifts onto other deities. So if you were to leave..." She had barely finished speaking, when Thalia continued, her voice more bitter : "And that's not even everyone ! What about father ? And Himeros ? Or is he the one who got into your head ? He must have, because you talk like a mad woman, Aglaea !" Himeros. Desire personnified. Could they be to blame for the unyielding strength of your feelings for Oneiros ?

You didn't remember talking before, but when you opened your mouth, the words floated so easily out of you, with no control over them whatsoever : "Of all people... Do you think I care about my husband, Hephaestus ? I can barely stand the sight of him !" Even in your trance like state, you could feel this was a poor choice of words. Hephaestus was just the tip of the iceberg. This seemed to enrage Thalia furthermore : "Do you hear that, Euphrosyne ? Our brave baby sister fears no one ! Don't you remember what he did, when he found Aphrodite in bed with Ares ? Or do you need me to refresh your memory ?"

Euphrosyne raised a hand to appease her sister, before adding : "Listen... I know you love him, dear sister. But the Dream Lord has a dangerous reputation... If you do not fear our family, fear HIM and what he could do to you, should you displease him." You stood up, without even thinking about it, filled with a stirring frustration. Your sisters would never understand : it was all worth it. A sense of impending doom suffocated you, but it was better than any of this. Of course you'd pay. Of course they'd come after you. But for an instant, you'd be free. Free to love the one you wanted to love. Free to live the life of your dreams. A small taste of eternity. You declared, before turning your back on your sisters, never to see them again : "You talk about their power. What they can do to me. But what about MY power ? THEY should be scared. Because I no longer want to be part of this. Dancing, and singing, and organizing stupid banquets ! Is that all there is to our lifes ? Being forced into marriage ? Fuck them. I know they can hear me. FUCK YOU ! ALL OF YOU ! And you my sisters, I want this for you too. Freedom. My daughters..." you trailed off, before catching yourself again : "I hope you'll find it in your hearts to forgive me someday."

You caught a glimpse of a tear on Euphrosyne's soft face, before hearing a strange sound. Everything around you faded to black, and the noise turned into a muffled voice : "Y/n, wake up." Who was y/n ? Your name was Aglaea, was it not ? But the voice became stronger, insisting on calling you y/n. You felt weirdly heavy, all of a sudden. It was too hot. You needed some air. Water too. You opened your eyes, and found yourself in a dark room. A woman was standing above you. "Finally, you're awake !" she said. Still groggy and disoriented, you asked in a throaty whisper : "Euphrosyne ?" The woman gave you a weird look, and laughed a little, before telling you : "Damn, that nap must've been hella good girl, 'cause what the fuck did you just call me ?" You didn't answer, and she shook her head, continuing : "Come on y/n, get your ass up. We're gonna be late." She left you alone, before you realised something.

At the corner of the room, you could have sworn there had been a man too, carefully watching you, just a second ago. He seemed more like a dark ghostly creature than human, but his presence made your heart flutter a little. He was right there. Where did he go ? You sat up on the couch, fully awake now. Vicky (Victoria, that was her name - how could you not remember your bestfriend's name ?) was right, that nap knocked the shit out of you. Your dream was slipping away now. It had been a long, looong time, since you last dreamed like that. You almost forgot who you were for a minute. Who the hell was Euphrosyne ? What kind of name was that anyways ?

You stood up, and recognized your surroundings. You were in the backroom of The Erotes, a strip club owned by a woman named Amy. Everyone called her Ma' though, because of her benevolent and protective disposition. Female owned strip clubs were rare, and you felt grateful for it. Amy made sure everyone felt comfortable, safe, and in perfect control of what they wanted to do. This place was the closest thing there was to home, in your book. You didn't remember much of your childhood, and your parents just weren't in the picture. It was almost like you didn't exist, before Ma' took you under her wing. There was a sense of strong sisterhood, amongst you and the other dancers. People loved to think of strippers as dumb, superficial and vulgar. Or as victims, before God forbid a woman could do something like that, and feel powerful. But the women you spend so much time with were some of the most interesting, clever and gorgeous creatures, inside and out, you had ever encountered. Vicky was one of them. You lived with her and her two year old daughter, Cecelia, who was the apple of your eye, in an nice appartment rented by none other than Amy. Life was pretty good, all things considered. You had reasons to be happy. And you were, to some extent.

But as far as you could remember, there had always been this quiet fear inside of you. This constant anxiety, that had grown even stronger the last couple of weeks. Something was going to happen to you. You didn't know how you knew it... you just did. You tried to open up to Vicky, but she was an optimist at heart : she didn't take your alarm seriously. "Babe, nothing is gonna happen to you, okay ? You're fine. Everything's fine. And if it's not, it will be", she would simply say. And then there was this odd feeling that something was just... missing. Something, or someONE was not there when it should have been. It was strange. To crave something or someone you knew nothing about. And then the anger... Where was all of this coming from ?

You were getting ready, but you weren't going to be dancing tonight. Maxxie, the bartender, had an emergency. You suspected it had something to do with his boyfriend. Nevertheless, you were one of the only ones who could fill his shoes while he was gone, so tonight, you'd be bartending. Vicky always marveled at how easily you managed to do pretty much anything. You just had this weird gift : you would try something once, and then replicate it perfectly without much guidance afterwards. "God, it's like you're not even human ! At least look like you're struggling a bit !" she would joke.

You were almost done, when one of the girls, Donna (the customers called her Red, because of her fabulous copper lioness mane) passed her head in the doorframe : "Honey, some handsome guy is asking for you." You knew you were popular amongst the club's clientele, but unfortunately for that handsome guy, tonight wasn't the night. "Tell him I'm not dancing tonight, Donna." you answered. But Donna looked a bit embarassed, and continued : "I know, I told him so, but he's insisting. He just wanna talk to you, I think." You stood up, put your shoes on, and asked : "Has he been here before ? You know him ?" She didn't. Said she'd remember him, because he was too damn cute to forget. This sparked your interest. You raised one eyebrow, and playfully retorted "Okay. Well, tell him I'll be here in a minute, would you ? Thanks, Don." She gave you a mischevous smile, and closed the door. You stared at your reflection in the mirror one last time , pretty satisfied, stood up, and went behind the bar to start your shift.

You made sure to arrive discreetly, to observe whoever was asking for you and not be taken too much by surprise. You greeted the twins, Rom and Remus, who were the club's bouncers and part of the family as much as anyone else. Vicky was on stage with a couple of the girls, dancing to "Desire" from Meg Myers, but it was hard to shine with her around. She moved with a snake like sensuality, swaying her hips and charming anyone who laid eyes on her in a hot second. Her eyes swiftly spotted you accross the room, her beautiful features illuminated by the pink, purple and blue neon lights, and you winked at her, earning a blinding smile in the process. No one talked about it, but everyone here knew the line between friends and lovers were often blurred between you and Vicky. Sometimes, things just happened. It didn't need to be adressed or labelled. It just... was. You shifted your focus on the rest of the large room, and saw a peculiar man wearing sunglasses inside. Donna was right, he had never been here before.

Swagger oozed out of him, and he quickly noticed he had caught your attention. He was indeed very handsome, in an almost dangerous way. He smiled at you, and came to sit on a bar stool right in front of you. You returned the smile, rested your elbows on the counter, and said : "A little bird has told me you're asking for me. But I wonder... I've never seen you around before. So how do you know about me ?" The blond man chuckled softly, before copying you and resting his own elbows on the bar : "A friend recommended this place to me. Told me to ask for Little Dream. That's how they call you, right ? Little Dream ? He tells me you move so gracefully, like you're floating around, with such lascivious ease... Must be quite the show." He had a way with words, she had to give it to him. "Unfortunately, as my friend already told you, I won't be performing tonight. I can get you something to drink though, if you'd like ?" His sunglasses still on his nose, the mysterious man grinned again. You couldn't see his eyes, but you could've sworn he was staring right into your soul in this moment. "A woman of multiple talents, I see." Then, he continued, speaking more to himself than to you "Little Dream... ha, isn't that just perfect ?"

Growing a bit uneasy, you asked again : "So, what can I get you ?". He seemed to get out of his short trance, and channelled all his charms to smoothly ask you for a whisky on the rocks. Two other men ordered drinks, so you had to abandon Sunglasses for a while, but he kept observing you with keen interest. A larger groupe came right after, so Amy popped up to give you a hand. You shot Blondie an apologetic look, but he didn't seem to mind. After a while, things had calmed down, and Ma' seemed to notice something was going on with you two, so she smiled, and nodded towards him. "Who's the pretty boy ? Don't think I've ever seen him before." You looked over your shoulder, and he raised his glass in your direction. You laughed softly, before answering : "Don't know. He came especially for me, apparently." Your boss smirked at you before deciding : "Go on. I got it. If things get too crazy, I'll call you." You asked if she was sure, which she was, before heading back towards the gorgeous stranger.

You didn't have time to say anything, before he complimented you : "It's true what my friend said, you do move like you're on a cloud. It's quite enchanting to see. Dancing or not." You softly smiled at him : "You're quite intriguing, aren't you ?" He laughed a little, before answering in a teasing way : "Am I now ?" You rested towards the counter again : "So what's your name, stranger ? And most importantly : what do you want from me ?" He patted the seat next to him, inviting you to join him on the other side of the bar. Amy was busy with a customer, and the group had drifted accross the room, cheering for Donna and Vicky, who were now dancing to "Okay" from Chase Atlantic. You joined him, curiosity getting the best of you. Satisfied, he responded to your questions with other questions : "Tell me, Little Dream... How have YOUR dreams been lately ? Do you sleep okay ?" Confused, you hesitated : "Huh, excuse me ?" He smiled to himself, like this was a private joke only he could understand. "Our old friend is out again, you know ? It's clear to me you can feel it, too." You subtly backed away a little, taken aback by his words. He didn't make any sense. Did he ? This wasn't the first time you had to deal with a weird customer, but there was something about this one... He was getting under your skin, and you couldn't take your eyes off of him.

"I don't know what you're talking about", you said nonetheless. He shook his head : "Ah yes, that old trick the Gods have cursed you with. Still working, I see. No memory again. I wonder what it'll take, for you to break that malediction. Anyways, he must have visited you at least once, since he's free now. Hasn't he ?" You stared at him in complete disbelief, not understanding why his words didn't sound completely insane to you. There was something in there that resonated with you, and he saw it in your eyes. "Aaaah, I knew he couldn't resist seeing his girl again. It's been so long, after all." Was he talking about the shadowy figure you swore you had seen when you woke up from this strange dream ? He couldn't be. How could he know ? You didn't even know what you had seen for certain. He continued : "I know if you were mine, I couldn't stay away for too long... But our mutual friend has been a very good boy, those past centuries. The last one wasn't his choice, alas, but still..."

Something inside you woke up, and you felt the hair on your arms stand up. Was he the one who would precipitate her downfall ? Was this what you had always been worrying about ? "WHO are you ? What do you want ? And what on earth are you talking about ?" The man chuckled again, this time with something dark in the sound of his voice. He stood up, and before you could turn around, you felt him whispering in your ear "You may not fully understand now, but you will. I'll help you understand when you're ready. I'll be there when you need me, that's a promise. Until then, see you around, Aglaea."

Before you could react, he was already gone. Aglaea. The name sounded awfully familiar. Wasn't it how those women called you in your dream ?

Chapter Two in the making...

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beautyofaphrodite · 1 month

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Love Deities all around the World

There are so, so many different Love Deities, so I thought I’d make a post listing as many as I know from as many pantheons I know about! Gods/Goddesses of Marriage and/or fertility are included. Deities from different pantheons are separated by a space.

❤️ Aphrodite

❤️ Eros

❤️ Hedone

❤️ Anteros

❤️ Hedylogos

❤️ Himeros

❤️ Hymenaios

❤️ Pothus

❤️ Phthonus

❤️ Hera

❤️ Venus

❤️ Cupid

❤️Suadela

❤️ Voluptas

❤️ Freyja

❤️ Frigg

❤️ Söfjn

❤️ Lofn

❤️ Prende

❤️ Milda

❤️ Dogoda

❤️ Dzydzilelya

❤️ Siebog

❤️živa

❤️Lada

❤️ Jarilo

❤️ Áine

❤️ Branwen

❤️ Cliodhna

❤️ Asmodeus

❤️ Babalon

❤️ Albina

❤️ Turan

❤️ Astghik

❤️ Kamadeva

❤️ Rati

❤️ Anahita

❤️ Aisyt

❤️ Oshun

❤️ Astarte

❤️ Bastet

❤️ Bes

❤️ Hathor

❤️ Min

❤️ Inanna

❤️ Ishtar

❤️ Nanaya

❤️ Aisha Qandicha

❤️ Bangan

❤️ Obban

❤️ Amas

❤️ Dian Masalanta

❤️ Mangagayuma

❤️ Agkui

❤️ Tagbayaw

❤️ Jiutian Xuannü

❤️ Yue-Lao

❤️ Tu Er Shen

❤️ White Peony

❤️ Wutong Shen

❤️BaiMei Shen

❤️ Quian Keng

❤️ Chuangmu

❤️ Aizen Myō-ō or Rāgarāja

❤️ Kuni

❤️ Kurukulla

❤️ Ixcuiname

❤️ Teicu

❤️ Tiacapan

❤️ Tlaco

❤️ Tlazolteotl

❤️ Xocotzin

❤️ Xochiquetzal

❤️ Xochipilli

❤️ Santa Muerte

❤️ Kurupi

❤️ Ruda

By the way, I don’t know much about most of these deities, and I encourage you to do your own research if you choose. If I missed any, let me know. Much love!

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the-mortuary-witch · 4 months

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APHRODITE

WHO IS SHE?

Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, war, desire, and fertility. She is often depicted as a powerful and seductive figure who wields great influence over both mortals and gods. She is believed to have power over all aspects of love and desire, including physical beauty, sexual attraction, and romantic love.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: Aphrodite is often depicted as a beautiful and seductive woman, with flowing golden hair and captivating grey or blue eyes. She is often shown wearing a chiton, a long, flowing garment in a light, sheer material, with a belt around the waist. Often, she is accompanied by the winged God Eros, or Cupid, who represents the God of desire, love and erotic desire.

Personality: she is often portrayed as a complex and multi-faceted deity. On one hand, she is a loving and nurturing mother figure, associated with love, fertility, and the natural world. On the other hand, she is often depicted as a powerful and seductive deity, associated with beauty, desire, and pleasure. She is often portrayed as having a powerful and somewhat overwhelming presence.

Symbols: rose, pearl, mirror, girdle, anemone, lettuce, narcissus seashells, scallop shells, Venus, golden apples, the number 5, and mirrors

Goddess of: love, beauty, war, desire, and fertility

Culture: Greek

Plants and trees: apple, linden tree, myrtle, pomegranate, poppies, lettuce, rose, quince, ash, poplar, anemone, artichokes, aloe vera, lemon verbena, dill, thyme, calla lilies, tulips, geraniums, alstroemeria, and hydrangea

Crystals: rose quartz, scallop pearl, diamond, aquamarine, Zambian emerald, agatized coral, ruby fuchsite, rose gold, pigeon’s blood, saltwater pearl, padparadscha sapphire, cultured pearl, triphane, white opal, freshwater pearl, olivine, aurichalcite, cat’s eye, Mozambique garnet, aqualite, Colombian emerald, Burmese ruby, trapiche emerald, mangano calcite, opal royale, akoya pearl, biron emerald, blue kunzite, lepidocrocite, welo opal, gibbsite, African emerald, kimberlite, grandidierite, strawberry quartz, linarite, mayanite, pumpellyite, lemurian jade, thulite, forsterite, green calcite, tremolite, spodumene, marble, rutilated quartz, emerald, pearl, cinnabar, dolomite, clinochlore, chrysocolla, azurite, peridot, kyanite, dumortierite, pink opal, apophyllite, and chrysoprase. (A lot of beautiful crystals for a beautiful Goddess).

Animals: butterflies, swans, dolphins, geese, doves, sparrows, bees, goats, hares, cats, hummingbirds, unicorns, and horses

Incense: rose, myrrh, vanilla, cinnamon, jasmine, ginger, cherry blossom, and lavender

Colours: red, pink, baby blue, sea foam, aqua, violet, silver, and light blue

Numbers: 2, 3, and 5

Zodiac: Libra

Tarot: The Empress, The Lovers, The Star, and The Suit of Cups

Planet: Venus

Days: Friday, Ostara, and Aphrodisia (the third week in July to the third week of August).

Parents: Zeus, Dione, and/or Uranus

Siblings: Hephaestus, Ares, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Hermes, Dionysus and Persephone (she only had half siblings)

Partner: Anchises, Hephaestus, Adonis, Ares, Eurydome, Hermes, Poseidon, Dionysus, and many other lovers

Children: Eros, Himeros, Pothos, Phobos, Deimos, Harmonia, Anteros, Rhodos, Eryx, Peitho, Rhodos, The Graces (Charities), Beroe, Golgos, Priapus, and Hermaphroditus

MISC:

• Aphrodite is said to have been born from the foam of the sea and was considered to be the most beautiful of all the Gods and Goddesses.

• She was known for her love of luxury and fine things, and was often depicted surrounded by a lavish entourage of nymphs and gods.

• She was associated with the arts of music, poetry, and beauty, and was believed to be the patron goddess of artists and artisans.

• Aphrodite is often called "The foam-born" because she is believed to have emerged from the foam of the sea after Cronus castrated Uranus.

• In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, the God of fire and smithing, but she often had affairs with other Gods, such as Ares, the God of war.

• She is often depicted with the winged God Eros, or Cupid, as her companion or son.

• She had many lovers, including the mortal prince, Adonis, who died because of their relationship.

• She represented the sensual aspects of love, including passion, desire, sexuality, and eroticism.

• She had many temples dedicated to her throughout the ancient world, including at Aphrodisia in Athens and Pompeii.

• She was sometimes depicted as a warrior Goddess, associated with the battlefield and conflict.

FACTS ABOUT APHRODITE:

• She is widely worshipped as a Goddess of the sea and of seafaring.

• Aphrodite was born off the coast of Cythera from the genitals of Uranus.

• She is known as the Lady of Cythera, the Lady of Cyprus because of her birth story.

• Like every Greek Olympic god, Aphrodite was also immortal and powerful.

• She is often depicted as the Greek equivalent of the Roman goddess, Venus.

• Aphrodite is one of the goddesses that reside in Mount Olympus.

• She did not take rejection well.

• Supported the Trojans during the Trojan War.

• Aphrodite’s magical girdle or belt also served as her weapon.

• The statue of Venus de Milo is said to depict the Goddess Aphrodite.

• Her name originated from the word Sea-foam.

• Like her siblings, Aphrodite also indulged in incestuous relationships.

• Aphrodite is depicted as perfectly symmetrical.

• The temple of Aphrodite is famous for its alleged temple of prostitution.

• Aphrodite is often depicted as nude and desirable.

• There is a flower named after the Greek goddess Aphrodite (Calycanthus Aphrodite).

• There are more artworks for Aphrodite than any other classic mythology figure.

• Many Olympian goddesses have been jealous of Aphrodite.

• Aphrodite was considered greatly generous to those who worshipped her.

• She has no known children with her husband.

• Pomegranates were also once associated with Aphrodite.

• In some texts, Aphrodite is depicted as a blonde or redhead.

• She really likes lacy and frilly things, fairies, pastel colours, music boxes, classical music and old songs from the 50s and 60s, and ballet.

HOW TO WORK WITH APHRODITE:

To work with Aphrodite, you can engage in activities that reflect her attributes and values. Here are some suggestions:

Create a beautiful altar or shrine to honour her, adorned with symbols of love, beauty and sensuality, such as flowers, mirrors, perfume, and jewelry, etc.

Offer prayers, offerings, or libations to her in her honour. This can include burning incense, offering wine, flowers, or other gifts that are meaningful to you.

Engaging in acts of self-care and self-love, such as taking care of your physical appearance and nurturing your relationships with others.

PRAYER FOR APHRODITE:

“Dear Aphrodite, great and lovely Goddess of love and beauty, I come before you today to honour and worship you. Thank you for the many gifts and blessings you have bestowed upon me. Please grant me the power to love and be loved, to find joy and beauty in all aspects of my life.”

“May your grace and presence always be a source of comfort and inspiration for me. Hail Aphrodite, hail the Goddess of love.”

SIGNS THAT APHRODITE IS CALLING YOU:

• Notice an increased sense of beauty and love in your life.

• Are drawn to her symbols, such as roses, shells, or swans.

• Feeling a strong connection to her myths and stories.

• You notice a surge in your own power of attraction or beauty.

• Noticing feelings of passion and desire when you think about her.

• You have dreams or visions related to her.

• Increased occurrences of the colour pink in your life.

• An attraction to love, beauty, and romance in all their forms.

• Feelings of intense love or desire, or a heightened sense of sensual energy.

• Encounters with doves, swans, or dolphins.

• A strong feeling of being drawn to or inspired by the goddess Aphrodite.

OFFERINGS:

• Roses.

• Sweets, candy, and desserts (she loves chocolate).

• Jewelry.

• Natural honey.

• Beauty products.

• Seashells.

• Cinnamon.

• Intimate acts.

• Art and music.

• Mirrors.

• Rose quartz.

• Scallop shells, conch shells, sea shells - just shells.

• Poetry.

• Myrtle.

• Anemone.

• Poppies.

• Abandoned beehives.

• Dead bees (make sure they died of natural causes, please don’t kill bees).

• Something you created (could be drawings, poems, knitted decoration, whatever you did while thinking of her).

• Fire.

• Bread.

• Something someone else created (always ask for permission to use someone else’s art and don’t ever make it pass as your own, She’s not stupid, and will be pissed if you do).

• Olive oil.

• Statues of her or anything She’s related to, as stated above.

• White feathers/dove feathers.

• Pearls of any colour.

• Lingerie.

• Sex toys.

• Fish scales.

• Sea water.

• Wine or champagne.

• Nuts.

• Aphrodisiac scents/foods.

• Silk.

• Beach sand.

• Starfish (grab a dead one from the beach, don’t buy one because they usually take living starfish and kill them to sell it as decor or souvenirs).

• Coffee beans or ground coffee.

• Fruits like strawberries, apples, pomegranates, cherries, or grapes.

• Shellfish.

• Vanilla or cinnamon sticks.

• Cat whiskers (please don’t cut a kitty’s precious whiskers, wait for them to shed naturally - look for them mostly during Summer and on the places your cats spend most of their time).

• Lettuce.

• Himalayan salt.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS FOR APHRODITE:

• Experimenting with makeup.

• Wear cozy/comfy clothes.

• Listen to music that makes you feel empowered.

• Sing along to your favourite songs.

• Give little gifts to your friends.

• Go for an evening walk.

• Sleep in when you can.

• Clean your room and let some fresh air in.

• Drink tea with honey.

• Visit the ocean or find some ways to be connected to it (sea salt, seashells, etc.)

• Write a letter to your future self or one to her.

• Go to a store and try on some new clothing styles.

• Leave positive notes in random places.

• Change your look every once in a while.

• Treat a friend to some drinks/dinner.

• Don’t limit yourself and your style because of stereotypes.

• Support small businesses.

• Take a day off and do whatever you want.

• Watch some cute animal videos.

• Visit a garden.

• Go on a picnic.

• Stand up for those who need it.

• Buy yourself some flowers.

• Be there for your friends.

• Eat those extra sweets.

• Wear more makeup/jewelry if it makes you feel nice.

• Compliment people more.

• Try out some new face masks.

• Take more selfies and pictures (by yourself and with friends).

• Enjoying floral scented things.

• Going see a movie by yourself.

• Practicing loving yourself.

• Sexually please yourself/explore and know your body.

• Make love/have sex.

• Create a playlist with songs that remind you of her.

• Baking her something sweet.

• Become a beekeeper / help local beekeepers.

IS IT SAFE TO EAT OR DRINK AN OFFERING I GIVE TO HER?

It is generally safe to eat or drink offerings made to Aphrodite, as long as they are prepared with cleanliness and care. However, it is important to use your discretion and follow any specific instructions or warnings provided by the deity. Some offerings, such as wine or other alcoholic beverages, may have been left out for a long period of time and may not be safe to consume. It is also possible that some offerings may have been left outside and could have been contaminated by insects or other outdoor elements.

#fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #fypage #fyppage #tumblr fyp #satanism #satanist #deity #deity work #aphrodite #goddess #love #greek mythology #information

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benigrec · 7 months

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dionysianfreak · 3 years

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Himeros

God of sexual love and apart of the Winged Erotes, Aphrodite's sacred procession

"Aphrodite roaming over the waves like sea-lettuce, moving her soft-skinned body in her voyage over the white calm sea, she pulls the breakers along her path. Above her rosy breast and below her soft neck a great wave divides her skin. In the midst of the furrow, like a lily wound among violets, Aphrodite shines out from the clam sea. Over the silver on dancing dolphins ride guileful Eros and laughing Himeros, and the chorus of bow-backed fish plunging in the waves sports with the Paphian where she swims."

** disclaimer: this board is extremely personal and not a healthy depiction of sexual love; this is a representation of how i as an individual understand and see Himeros.

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tomorrowsdrama · 3 years

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Resident drama dealer @dangermousie told me Fujiki Naohito is a hot daddy assassin in Hitman in Love so say no more, y’all know where my thirsty ass is headed.

#dangermousie out here doing god’s work #which god? how about Eros himeros and/or pothos?#Wikipedia tells me there’s a Chinese deity named tu’er shen who specifically manages love and sex between homosexual people #so maybe him too with all her danmei recs lol #hitman in love #boku no satsui ga koi wo shita #fujiki naohito #jdrama

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coinandcandle · 2 years

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Aphrodite Deity Guide

Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, sex, fertility, and beauty. She is known by the Romans as Venus. I've become interested in working for Aphrodite recently.

This is from my personal grimoire but I tried to remove anything that is an opinion or bias.

Quote from Trisha Mateer's "Aphrodite Made Me Do It"; banner by me.

Who is Aphrodite?

Strongly associated with love and beauty, Aphrodite is also worshipped as a sea-fairing goddess as she is associated with the ocean.

Some places, most notably Sparta, Thebes, and Cyprus honored her as a goddess of war.

In the epic Theogony, the author tells how Aphrodite was born from the severed genitals of Uranus, personification of heaven. The genitals were tossed into the sea by Cronus and out rose Aphrodite.

The goddess gets her namesake from the Greek work aphros which means “foam”.

Parents and Siblings of Aphrodite

Uranus

Sometimes it’s said that she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione.

If she was the daughter of Ouranos, her siblings include the Titans, such as Cronus, Rhea, Hyperion, and others.

If Aphrodite was one of the daughters of Zeus, she had many half siblings since he had multiple affairs. Hephaestus, Ares, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Hermes, Dionysus and Persephone were all her half siblings, and she didn’t have any direct siblings

Aphrodite’s Lovers

Hephaestus is her husband

Ares is her most prominent affair

Anchises, a mortal with whom she gave birth to Aeneas

Adonis, a handsome young man who was killed by a boar while hunting and was lamented by women at the festival of Adonia. (britannia)

Dionysus

Zeus

Hermes

Phaethon

Posideon

Butes

Aphrodite’s Children

From the mortal Anchises, Aeneas, a mythical hero of Troy and Rome, and Lyrus/Lyrnus.

From Butes, Eryx, Meligounis and several more unnamed daughters.

Hymenaios, Iacchus, Priapus, the Charites (Graces: Aglaea, Euphrosyne, Thalia) from Dionysus

Phobos, Deimos, Harmonia, the Erotes (Eros), Anteros, Himeros, Pothos from Ares

Hermaphroditos, Priapus from Hermes

Rhodos from Posideon

Beroe, Golgos, Priapus (rarely) from Adonis

Astynous from Phaethon

Priapus from Zeus.

Peitho from an unknown father. Though Peitho is also considered one of Aphrodite’s epithets.

Epithets

“…she is Cythereia, she of Cythêra; and Cypria, she of Cyprus, where at Paphos she had her great sanctuary. Living in islands her way was ever on the sea.”

-Jane Harrison Myths of Greece and Rome

Aphrodite Urania (also spelt Ourania)

Aphrodite Pandemos

Venus Genatrix

Peitho, meaning persuasion,

Philommeidḗs, which means "smile-loving", but is sometimes mistranslated as "laughter-loving".

Cypris and Cythereia for her association of Cyprus and Cythera

On Cyprus, Aphrodite was sometimes called Eleemon

In Athens, she was known as Aphrodite en kopois ("Aphrodite of the Gardens”)

At Cape Colias, a town along the Attic coast, she was venerated as Genetyllis "Mother".

Aphrodite Euploia ('of the fair voyage')

Across the Greek world, she was known under epithets such as:

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The Spartans worshipped her as:

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Misc Notes

Many of the epithets are names or titles from various cults that worshipped Aphrodite.

Prostitutes identified Aphrodite as their patron deity.

A male version of Aphrodite known as Aphroditus was worshipped in the city of Amathus on Cyprus. Aphroditus was depicted with the figure and dress of a woman, but had a beard and was shown lifting his dress to reveal an erect phallus. This gesture was believed to be an apotropaic symbol, and was thought to convey good fortune upon the viewer. Eventually, the popularity of Aphroditus waned as the mainstream, fully feminine version of Aphrodite became more popular, but traces of his cult are preserved in the later legends of Hermaphroditus.

It’s likely that Aphrodite was brought over from the Eastern Mediterranean, hinting to Phoenician goddess Astarte or the near Eastern goddess Inanna (Ishtar).

The Petra Tou Romaniou also named “Aphrodite’s Rock” is a sea stack said to be a marker of where she was born. This rock is by a beach in Paphos, Cyrpus.

She was specifically the protectress of city magistrates.

Correspondences

Disclaimer - Not all of these are traditional or historic correspondences nor do they need to be. However, any correspondence that can be considered traditional will be marked with a (T).

Rocks/Stone/Crystals/Metals

Rose Quartz

Pearl

Aquamarine

Sapphire

Silver

Rose Gold

Gold

Sea Glass

Herbs/Plants

Roses (T)

Myrtle flowers(T)

Apples (T)

Pomegranates (T)

Rosemary

Animals

Dove (T)

Sparrows (T)

Water Fowls including swans, geese, and ducks (T)

Possible Dolphins, as she is often depicted with them.

Symbols

Conch shell (T)

Mirror (T)

Girdle (T)

Offerings

Statues or art of her

Incense (T)

Cakes or pastries (T)

Chocolate

Candles (T)

Strawberries

Traditional items like roses, wine, myrtle, apples, and pomegranates seeds. (T)

Jewelry

Olives, Olive oil, or olive branches (T)

Praise, just tell her how cool and how pretty she is!

Pretty things

Makeup

Honey

Acts of Devotion

Write or recite poetry about Aphrodite (T)

Read hymns written for her/create your own! (Here's Sappho's Hymn to Aphrodite) (T)

Practicing self care, dedicating that good energy to her

Dressing up/putting on an outfit that makes you feel attractive

Glamour spells

Putting on makeup inspired by her

Sex magic (proceed with caution)

Celebrate Adonia (T)

Research her history and mythology. (You can make notes from this post if you'd like, check out the links below, or feel free to do your own research!)

Keep in mind that these are only some ideas for offerings and correspondences! Items and activities that connect you to her in a more personal way are just as good, and often better, than those you find on the internet. As with any relationship, feel it out, ask questions, and be attentive and receptive!

References and Further Reading

Aphrodite - Britannia

Aphrodite (Venus) - Myths of Greece and Rome by Jane Harrison (via Sacred-Texts)

Poems of Sappho collection by J.B. Hare (via Sacred-Texts)

Aphrodite - World History Encyclopedia

Aphrodite - Theoi Project

Aphrodite - Wikipedia

Aphrodite - Greekmythology.com

Aphrodite Made Me Do It by Trisha Mateer

#deity guide #aphrodite #witchcraft #pagan #deity work #Aphrodite Deity #Venus Deity #Aphrodite Deity Guide #Aphrodite worship #hellenism #polytheism #grimoire #Coin's Grimoire

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thesunw1tch · 2 years

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Bit of a weird question but i heard of sex magick, and i was thinking, could i make a offering with sex magic (ex: thinking of a god white having orgasm) what gods would that disrespect if not all

Hey there! S-x magick isn't something I know a lot about, truthfully. Though, I have used it as an offering/devotional act twice: Once for Aphrodite, and once for Dionysus. This is something you'll have to work out with the gods you worship or work with, however, as I'm sure some Gods or Goddesses may not appreciate s-xual offerings.

I do not speak for these Gods, nor am I a devotee of any of them, so please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't imagine Artemis, Demeter, Eos, Athena, or Hestia being all too thrilled about that sort of offering.

Like I said, I do not speak for the Gods. This is something you have to speak to your particular gods about before doing. Some that may enjoy s-xual offerings are Aphrodite, Eros, Dionysus, Zeus, Hedone, Hedylogos, Himeros, Pothos, etc. But please, do your research and ask permission first! Everyone's journey is different and everyone's relationship with the Gods is different, so don't just take my advice! Talk to your deities and see what happens!

#apollo #apollo devotee #apollo devotion #apollo worship #witchcraft #witches #asks #asks open

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deathlessathanasia · 1 year

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"In addressing the question of nature in the ancient Greek world, I thought that I would turn to the gods because they so complicate conventional distinctions between nature and culture. At one end of the spectrum, they embody elements of nature and indeed personify natural forces - Zeus, the Indo-European Sky God, cloud gatherer and hurler of thunderbolts, and at the other end they represent ideals of civilization and moral order: Zeus Polieus, Zeus Euboulos ("the Good Counsellor"), Zeus Xenios ("Protector of Hospitality"); or consider anarchic Aphrodite, the joyous and dangerous goddess of sexual intercourse, often flanked by two winged youths Eros and Himeros, abstract nouns for sexual desire and yearning, as contrasted with Aphrodite, defender of cities and warlike Bringer of Victory (Nikephoros), portrayed in sculpture with a diadem of towers on her head.

What does such dualism tell us about a Greek view of nature? It is not my aim to identify some all encompassing world view, nor shall I attempt to put forth striking new theories, but I shall call to mind certain opposing, but complementary forces within Greek culture which seem familiar but, when contemplated, retain their essential strangeness. As in the examples of Zeus and Aphrodite, the polytheism of Greek religion can be seen as much within the complex identities of each individual god or goddess as it can in the diversity between different deities, old and new, chthonic and airborne, that make up the pantheon: in short, each individual god embodies a kind of polytheism. Even when we think we can identify a deity with one function, we discern opposition, as for example in the case of Artemis who as "Mistress of the Animals" and goddess of untamed nature both protects animals in the wild and hunts them. But Greek religion further complicates our understanding of this goddess, as of all other gods, by attributing to her roles quite different from her "canonical" ones. So at Iasos in Caria, she is protectress of the city (Artemis Astias), and at Olympia, she is Artemis of the Market Place (Artemis Agoraia). Such is the Artemis in Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannos (161-62) who "sits on her round, and far-famed, throne in the agora" at Thebes.

Each of these gods, then, defying our human desire to classify and categorize, embodies contradiction, a being both of nature and of culture, absorbing the antithesis between phusis and nomos that prevails in Greek thought, an antithesis that the Greeks repeatedly turned to, to illuminate the uniquely human and the unstable distinctions between human nature and all the rest of nature."

- Stephen Scully, The Nature of the Gods in Early Greek Poetry, in Philosophies of Nature: The Human Dimension

#greek gods #ancient greek religion #zeus #aphrodite #artemis #quotes #excerpts

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fountainsofcyprus · 2 years

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30 Days of Deity Devotion ( Aphrodite ) - Day 5

Members of the Family – Genealogical Connections Talking about Aphrodite’s family tree is a difficult matter, just as it is for most major deities of the pantheon. For this, I’ll focus on the most popular version of her birth, where she was born out of the castrated testicles of Ouranos, but I also want to acknowledge other versions, such as the one that says she is daughter of Ouranos and Hemera, and the one that says she was born of Zeus and Dione.

Aphrodite’s birth is mentioned in Hesiod’s Theogony, and I quote: “And so soon as he had cut off the members with flint and cast them from the land into the surging sea, they were swept away over the main a long time: and a white foam spread around them from the immortal flesh, and in it there grew a maiden. First she drew near holy Cythera, and from there, afterwards, she came to sea-girt Cyprus, and came forth an awful and lovely goddess, and grass grew up about her beneath her shapely feet. Her gods and men call Aphrodite, and the foam-born goddess and rich-crowned Cytherea, because she grew amid the foam, and Cytherea because she reached Cythera, and Cyprogenes because she was born in billowy Cyprus, and Philommedes because sprang from the members.” ( The Theogony, Translated By H.G Evelyn-White ). This version is by far the most popular/accepted, and the one that is most often depicted in art. It’s also the version that I myself prefer, since, to me, it best explains her being as we know her. She’s a sea goddess, one who rules over love, something that can sometimes be painful, and that can start and end wars.

Being goddess of sex and fertility, it’s normal that Aphrodite is also mother to many children. The first I’ll mention is Eros, who is sometimes said to also be born with the foam alongside her ( And with her went Eros, and comely Desire followed her at her birth at the first and as she went into the assembly of the gods. - The Theogony, Hesiod, Translated by H.G Evelyn-White ). Others say that she was born pregnant with him and gave birth to him not too long after her own, or that she had him later, and that his father was Ares. The first two versions also account for Himeros’ ( God of sexual desire ) birth.

By herself, she is also mother to some of the other Erotes, such as Pothos ( God of Passionate Longing ), as well as Peitho ( Goddess of Persuasion ) and Rhodos ( Goddess of the island of Rhodes ).

By Ares, she is also mother to Harmonia ( Goddess of Harmony and Concord ), Deimos ( God of terror and dread ), Phobos ( God of panic, flight and rout ) and Anteros ( God of requited love ).

By Adonis, she bore Beroe ( Goddess of the city of Beroe ), and some say Priapos, though the more popular version as far as I’ve seen is the one where she is his mother by Dionysos. Another, third version, says that his father is Zeus.

By Dionysos, as well as Priapos, she is also sometimes mother of Iakkhos ( God of the Eleusinian Ritual Cry ) and of the Kharites ( Goddesses of Grace and Beauty, amongst other things )

By Hermes, she is mother of Hermaphroditos ( God.dess of Intersex people and Feminine Men ).

By Poseidon, she is mother of Herophilos, and sometimes also Rhodos.

She also had a few mortal children: Aenas ( Prince of Dardania during the Trojan war, son of Ankhises ), Lyros ( Another prince of Dardania, brother of Aenas ), Astynoos ( Prince of Syria, son of Phaethon ) and Eryx ( King of Sicily, son of Boutes. Eryx is also an epithet of hers, which she bears notably in Arkadia. )

#aphrodite deity #aphrodite worship #aphrodite #30 days of deity devotion #30 days of devotion #hellenic polytheism

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pally1985 · 4 years

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closer look at the relationship between zues and aphrodite and athena. and why its deeper than you think.(part 1)

its going to be a long one so strap in.

why aphrodite?: Aphrodite was the goddess of erotic love and beauty. Today she is one of the best known goddesses and easily one of the most recognisable. Images such as Botticelli’s *The Birth of Venus* and statues like the *Venus de Milo* are some of the many iconic representations of Aphrodite. Her status as a goddess of love is well documented. Homer, Hesiod, and Euripides have all shown her to be a goddess of great beauty (naked or adorned), seduction, persuasion and passion. She is the divine source of *peitho*, "persuasion," *eros*, "sexual desire" and *himeros* "longing" and Eros was her companion. Hesiod links Aphrodite inextricably to sex with his account of her birth; from the sea where Ouranos’ castrated genitals had been discarded. Before researching this I thought Aphrodite’s remit was limited to love and seduction but there are other sides to Aphrodite that I feel have been a little neglected. Homer repeatedly calls her the Dios thugater (daughter of Zeus) which brings into light the relationship between the Homeric and Hesiodic Aphrodite and Zeus. Aphrodite was the goddess of mixis, the “mingling” of bodies in an intimate physical contact, in a martial and sexual sense. She could also be fiercely protective and brave at times, such as when she rescued Paris from the Battle of Troy. I want to discover why she called Aphrodite Pandemos “She who Belongs to all the People”. Was it because she encompassed so many ideas in one deity?. So it is because of these different and lesser known traits of this deity that I have decided to make this post solely focused on her. I want to explore the little known sides of Aphrodite and in doing so learn a more about her, her interactions with other figures from ancient Greek religion.

Zeus and aphrodite (part 1) In this entry I want to start analysing the relationship between Aphrodite and Zeus. Were they, father and daughter, aunt and nephew, oppressor and rebel or tease and pursuer? From Aphrodite’s birth and marriage, to Zeus’ fatherly instincts and attempted rape, I will look at different examples of the interactions looking into a very complicated relationship between two of the most significant Olympians.

The birth of Aphrodite is a contentious issue as Homer and Hesiod disagree; either she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione or she was created out of the sea where the castrated genitals of Ouranos had floated.

Hesiod believed that Aphrodite was Ouranos’ daughter albeit with an unusual birth. If so then it is understandable that Aphrodite would disobey Zeus over incidences such as her marriage to Hephaistos. She was of an older generation, effectively Zeus’ aunt and therefore not strictly under his control. If she was his daughter then her defiance whilst abnormal is a testament to how powerful she was.

The marriage of Aphrodite to Hephaistos, engineered by Zeus is a key example of Zeus’ power over Aphrodite and then her defiance succeeding. Zeus decided to marry Aphrodite to Hephaistos it was to prevent the desire for her causing conflict amongst the gods. As Aphrodite’s father, or at least as king of the god’s her *kurios,* it was his responsibility to marry her off but as the embodiment of sexual desire it was not in Aphrodite’s nature to be bound by marriage, she was not suitable for this institution. Aphrodite caused the conflict Zeus was trying to avoid when she and Ares were caught in bed. Hephaistos trapped them both in a net of bronze filaments and demanded that the gods come and bear witness to his wife’s lust for Ares. He also demanded that Zeus repay the dowry. According to Cyrino this is an example of Aphrodite being clearly under the parental control of Zeus but I disagree. The significance of this incident lies in the fact that Zeus tried to be in command of Aphrodite but ultimately she still overcame his demands and defied him. He attempted to oppress Aphrodite by making her conform to the norms of Olympian society by becoming a wife, the possession of one male but Aphrodite’s flagrant disobedience, bringing of conflict amongst the gods and subsequent apparent failure to remarry shows her continued dominance over Zeus.

There is no account of Aphrodite remarrying, it seems as though she had a substantial relationship with Ares but no actual wedding and judging by the number of children they had it was more than a casual affair. This would make sense, she was not suited to lifelong fidelity but that does not mean that sexual desire is fleeting; her affair with Ares was very in character. She was never suited to what Zeus had planned. Zeus also played the fatherly role when Aphrodite was hurt in the battle of Troy whilst rescuing Aeneas. Aphrodite’s wrist was wounded and she fled to Dione. Zeus “teasingly rebukes” her by calling her his “dear child” and patronizingly tells her to “take care of the pleasures of love and leave the fighting to Ares and Athena”. Despite seeming weak when running to her parents the fact that she even entered the battle shows her strength and bravery. Zeus displays a caring, fatherly side but his teasing highlights the fact that it would be dangerous for Aphrodite to have access to both love and warfare; she was powerful enough as it is. Jackson says that this scene can be interpreted as Zeus trying to keep Aphrodite away influence in love and war. When telling Aphrodite to take care of the pleasures of love Zeus may have been unaware just how powerful Aphrodite was in this respect. There are many examples of Aphrodite and her son Eros causing gods and mortals to fall in love, for example when Phaedra falls in love her stepson. Euripides describes Eros as her winged partner and her agent in her erotic control.Whether Eros and Aphrodite are active participants in the situation or not as personifications of love and sex they were always responsible for the feelings evoked. Cyrino says that it is the sheer force of Aphrodite’s existence that caused individuals to join together in sexual contact. In this respect all of Zeus’ extra-marital sexual encounters were a result of the force of Aphrodite. Zeus often had to prevent Hera from finding out about his affairs; hence taking disguises when meeting his partners. His desire to sleep with other individuals stems from Aphrodite; she was a major thorn in his side. Hera’s scorn and jealousy towards the children of these liaisons, Dionysus and Heracles for example was a result of Aphrodite’s effect. All the liaisons between deities (and mortals) inappropriate or not were due to Aphrodite. Her power was immense.

The sexual force emanating from Aphrodite made Zeus want to be with Thetis but either Themis or Prometheus told Zeus that a son born by Thetis would be more powerful than the father and would become the ruler of heaven. As a result Zeus arranged for Thetis to marry Peleus. Aphrodite made him desire Thetis, a deity that he could not have without risking his reign. An impossible love is a terrible emotion to feel, Aphrodite was unintentionally asserting herself over Zeus. Her power is making him have feelings that could never be acted upon or reciprocated; Thetis was raised by Hera and frowned upon Zeus’ infidelities. When Zeus united Aphrodite with mortal Anchises it was in response to her serial habit of uniting gods with mortals and then “mocking them all”\[ix\] This has been cited as an example of Zeus demonstrating his supremacy over Aphrodite and whilst he succeeded it does not mean that he was always superior to her. This is a rare occasion when Zeus gives Aphrodite a taste of her own medicine, but in mind this is an isolated incident; Aphrodite actively does this to other individuals regularly and inactively to individuals and animals constantly as she represents sexual desire.

Aphrodite also had enough force to make Zeus desire her. Greek poet, Nonnus, tells us in three fragments of his *Dionysiaca* about the time that Zeus tried to rape Aphrodite.

"once when Kypros \[Aphrodite\] fled like the wind from the pursuit of her lascivious father \[Zeus\], that she might not see an unhallowed bedfellow in her own begetter, Zeus the father gave up the chase and left the union unattempted, because unwilling Aphrodite was too fast and he could not catch her: instead of Kypros' bed, he dropt on the ground the love-shower of seed from the generative plow. Gaia (earth) received Kronion’s fruitful dew, and shot up a strange-looking horned generation \[the kentauroi or centaurs of the island of kypros\]."\[x\]

It is another example of her power over him that she could captivate his desires and then evade his attempts. Eventually when Aphrodite did allow an affair with Zeus Aphrodite became pregnant with the child Priapus.\[xi\] Kerenyi talks of Hera’s anger and jealousy due to Aphrodite pregnancy by her husband and she cursed the unborn Priapos to have unnaturally large genital and he was exiled from Olympus.\[xii\] When Priapus was conceived it was at the discretion of Aphrodite, when she deemed it suitable she then allowed them to sleep together. She teased him with no plan to satisfy him until she was prepared to do so. She was in control of the situation, not Zeus. The relationship between Zeus and Aphrodite is complex but there is another dimension. Zeus greatly favored Athena over Aphrodite she was the lynch pin in the maintenance of his tyranny and the attempted of dominance over Aphrodite. That I shall discuss in Part Two. closer look at the relationship between zues and aphrodite and athena. and why its deeper than you think.(part 2)

### Aphrodite and Zeus Part 2: The Athena Effect: In the last post I looked at the relationship between Zeus and Aphrodite from the starting perspective of them being father and daughter. Aphrodite was often disobedient and took pleasure in humiliating Zeus and many other deities and mortals, but she also posed a much greater threat to Zeus. Aphrodite instigated the Battle of Troy[i], she may have been of an older generation than Zeus and she had control of his sexual desires. However Zeus had a weapon against her; he used Athena who represented everything he could want in a male heir to undermine the fundamental tenets of Aphrodite’s existence. There was animosity between Athena and Aphrodite; at Troy they both supported different sides and Athena could be very scathing towards Aphrodite. After Diomedes wounded Aphrodite’s wrist and she ran to Dione, Athena and Hera taunted her for her efforts on the battlefield.

### “But Athene and Hera, as they looked upon her, sought to anger Zeus, son of Cronos, with mocking words. And among them the goddess flashing-eyed Athene was first to speak: “Father Zeus, wilt thou anywise be wroth with me for the word that I shall say? Of a surety now Cypris [Aphrodite] has been urging some one of the women of Achaea to follow after the Trojans, whom now she so wondrously loveth; and while stroking such a one of the fair-robed women of Achaea, she hath scratched upon her golden brooch her delicate hand.”[ii]

### The competition between them stems their similarities and thier differences. Both were famous for their beauty, hence why Paris had to choose between them. They both possessed a gleaming, golden quality to their beings. Homer records them both has having the attribute of glaukopis; darting or gleaming eyes. He also tells us of how Athena was one the few deities whom Aphrodite's powers had no effect on. Both goddesses have key roles with mortals, Aphrodite makes them mate (with gods also). Athena comes across as a sister and friend to mortals and assists them with powerful gifts and wise council.[v] The animosity arises from a difference of purpose; Athena was celebrated for her mind and wisdom, Aphrodite for her beauty and sensuality. It was also due to Zeus’ relationship with both of them that their animosity grew. The Zeus portrayed by Homer is not an omnipotent ruler; he still faced challenges to his office. Whilst Strauss Clay says that despite the occasional disturbance Zeus’ reign can “no longer be shaken”.[vi] Jackson rebuts that the majority of the divine action in the Iliad is made up of such challenges to his authority. After all if Homer had wanted to show Zeus’s authority as unchallenged then why would the Iliad feature so many subversive elements? Jackson argues that due to this instability Zeus needed someone to help instil order; that someone was Athena. His obvious favouritism of Athena was aimed at subduing Aphrodite. This conflict between him and Aphrodite also highlights the greater conflict between the Zeus and the other gods. Hesiod and Homer have different accounts of Aphrodite’s creation and whilst superficially the two Aphrodite’s appear very different they serve the same purpose relating to Zeus. The Aphrodite in Theogany similar to Athena in that they were both born of one male parent. This created a strong tie with each father; Athena with Zeus and Aphrodite with Ouranos. The place which the two deities sprung out of can also be linked to the characteristics surrounding the father’s reign and the daughter’s actions. Zeus gave birth to Athena out of his head, hence Athena was renowned for her wisdom and Zeus’ reign was “one of the mind”. Hesiod also describes Athena as having “courage and sound council equal to her father’s”[vii] Aphrodite was produced out of Ouranos’ genitals in a act of grotesque violence. In this respect Ouranos’ reign is one filled with “gross physicality”[viii] and Aphrodite is linked with sex and fertility. As Aphrodite was born out of the succession struggle between Ouranos and Kronos then she is linked with the succession process and therefore she poses a danger to Zeus’ reign.[ix]

### Aphrodite’s link with sex and therefore childbirth is a regular source of threat to Zeus. In Hesiod’s family trees he describes the women during conception as literally “dominated in love by golden Aphrodite”. She is inextricably linked with the birth of those who would later challenge Zeus for example Typhon who Zeus would have to engage in single combat to display his right to his throne.[x] When Zeus fell in love with Thetis (due to Aphrodite’s power) then she was setting him up to have a child that would bring instability to his reign. Involved in the conception of dangerous offspring Aphrodite often brings menace to Zeus’s rule. However Zeus’ reign was partly secured by Aphrodite; his repeated infidelity and the children it produced earned him the title of “father of gods and men”[xi]. This infidelity created a network of kin bound to Zeus through love and familial ties.[xii] This network that entrenched his reign stemmed from Aphrodite’s powers over promiscuity; Aphrodite helped establish his reign and Zeus feared she could just as easily demolish it.

### It is in relation to this threat that we must look at Athena again. The creation of Athena was Zeus’ master stroke in maintaining his reign. Both Ouranos and Kronos tried to maintain their reigns by imprisoning their children; Ouranos locked his children in Tartarus and Kronos ate his children, obviously both failing. The way Zeus managed to maintain his rule was by placing all the gifts that would so dangerous in a son (courage, wisdom, skilled hands) in a daughter: Athena.[xiii] She is all he could want in a trusted lieutenant but as a woman she could not assume the throne from him. And as a virgin goddess she could not continue the line of succession so she represented the end of the succession cycles. With the birth of Athena out of his head Zeus placeed the significance of thought (Athena) above the groin (Aphrodite). Still Aphrodite, with her children, and her link to the higher echelons of divine power posed a threat. Although it should be remembered that whilst Zeus may have feared her power; as a woman Aphrodite also could not have claimed the Olympian throne; it would have been one of her children. Thus Hesiod created Aphrodite to be the “other” in Zeus’s reign, always lurking and posing a subtle threat.

### The Homeric Aphrodite is just as dangerous and Zeus curbed Aphrodite’s influence by placing Athena at the front of his affections. In the Iliad Athena is obviously Zeus’ favourite; in Books 5 and 8 she wears his armour and in book 5 Ares accuses Zeus of ignoring Athena’s unruly behaviour. It is interesting that Ares would slight his father in this way; was this the action of a god jealous of his father’s attention on Athena or a god defending his lover Aphrodite? But Ares wasn’t the only jealous deity around; Athena prized her place as Zeus’ darling. When she believed Zeus favoured Thetis she claimed that “the day shall come when he shall again call me his flashing-eyed darling”[xiv] Athena’s jealousy would also lead her to become far more active in the story of the Iliad. Up until the beginning of Book 4 Aphrodite was one of the most active participants in the story, she instigated the war, saved Paris and persuaded Helen to reprimand Paris’ cowardice. It only took a slight mention from Zeus of Aphrodite’s achievements and Athena and Hera’s relative laziness to make Athena take over a prime divine role in the fighting; hence why several mortals prayed to her believing she would be the deity most likely to act for them.[xv] Zeus was being defensive; Athena could be as powerful as she liked but she could never usurp Zeus, Aphrodite was much more powerful and therefore needed to be limited. By placing Aphrodite’s power in the hands of Athena and trying to replace Aphrodite’s inappropriate contact with humans with Athena’s more demure approach Zeus belittled Aphrodite’s power. By championing Athena’s powers of thought over Aphrodite’s powers over the groin Zeus is distancing himself from his father and grandfather and stopping the cycles of succession. By defending Aphrodite from Athena’s mocking, and then teasing Aphrodite when she is wounded, Zeus brings her into the family and places her under his control. It is through the relations with Athena, Zeus’ greatest weapon that he manages to keep Aphrodite a subtle threat, but still a threat to be wary of. Aphrodite is predominantly a goddess of love but despite the best efforts of Zeus to keep her away from influencing warfare there are many strong links between the spheres of love and war under Aphrodite. She might not have been as war hungry as Ares but there is evidence to suggest she did not do as Zeus told her and just “take care of the pleasures of love and leave the fighting to Ares and Athena”.Aphrodite is the goddess of mixis. Cyrino defines this as “the blending of bodies in intimate physical contact, both sexual and martial.[ii] Her birth shows the martial future she had”. The remarkable act of violence which created her[iii] embodies the violence and antagonism which the ancient Greek poets linked with the intensity of human sexuality.[iv] It also linked her from the beginning of her existence to violence and power struggles. In the Iliad she was the first point of intimate contact between mortals and gods, when saving Aeneas from the battle. She was also the first god to be wounded by a mortal in battle which led other deities to engage in further god-mortal combat, for example Ares and Diomedes.It must be asked how Aphrodite could be comfortable entering a battle. When rescuing Aeneas and Paris is it her passion as a goddess of love that gives her the strength to enter a battle. There are many literary examples of Aphrodite being a goddess not of war but linked to war. In Book Five of the Iliad she rides Ares’ war chariot back to Olympus, in Book 21 she helps Ares away from the battle when wounded[vi], she was married to Hephaistos; maker of weapons and armour and most importantly she was the instigator of the most famous military battle in Greek mythology.[vii] As a result Aphrodite is also responsible for all the honour that is bestowed upon the gods and heroes who fought.[viii] Regardless of whether Aphrodite was actively part of the fighting or not the emotion she embodied was inspiration enough for many fighters to bear arms.[ix]

### Aphrodite’s golden quality is most often associated with objects of power and prestige for example armour, breast plates and spear rings.[xi] Other divine objects with this quality were Zeus’ scales, Apollo’s aegis and Athena’s armour. Instead of being a quality just of beauty it is also one of power, it is another embodiment of mixis. There were physical monuments erected to the war-like Aphrodite. In the 2nd century AD Pausanius mentions the existence of “armed” (hoplismenē) statues of Aphrodite. She may have acquired a militarised personality in Sparta where there was a temple to Aphrodite Aria. This temple suggests that Aphrodite was worshiped as a warrior herself or as a mixis between her and her lover Ares.[xii] It must also not be forgotten that two of Aphrodite and Ares’ children were his followers representing fear (Phobos) and terror (Deimos) she must have had war-like attributes to produce children like them.

### The Aphrodite Hoplismenē may not have been worshiped by the majority but her embodiment of mixis, her relationship with Ares, her instigation of Troy and her bravery in battle all point to her being a goddess of war but with a twist on it. It is a mark of her power that even though she may not have shouldered a weapon like Artemis or Athena that she still caused and actively participated in the greatest war in Greek mythology. Jackson believes that Hera is using Aphrodite’s seductive power to subdue Zeus in order that the other gods could fight unhindered and give advantage to the Greeks in battle. Hera asks Aphrodite if she can borrow the “ornate sash” which contains Aphrodite’s powers of desire and seduction because she wants to unite the quarrelling Tethys and Okeanos. But Hera had “every intention to deceive”[iii]; she used Aphrodite’s power on Zeus giving Poseidon the chance to assist the Argives in bettering the Trojans. Jackson states that whilst this scene recognises Aphrodite’s “awesome power”[iv] it also removes Aphrodite’s power from her control then turns it against Aphrodite and her beloved Trojans. Jackson’s Aphrodite is naive and is easily depowered by Hera.I however believe that Aphrodite knew exactly what she was doing and allowed Hera to use her power to seduce Zeus so that she could gain the upper hand over both of them. Zeus had forbidden the gods to intervene in the Trojan War and it was a strain for the gods to obey. By helping Hera distract Zeus it left the gods open to completely rebel against his rule.But Aphrodite would have also liked getting one over Hera. Relations between them were often hostile for example Hera (with Athena) mocked Aphrodite’s efforts in battle[vii] After Aphrodite fell pregnant by Zeus Hera cursed the unborn Priapus resulting in him being born with unnaturally large genitals leaving him exiled from Olympus. Whilst Aphrodite favoured the Trojans and would do almost anything for them, her pride was more important. Hera had been antagonistic so Aphrodite would have relished the chance to be superior. Aphrodite was a powerful goddess and would have liked that both she and Hera would have known Hera was subordinate to Aphrodite on this occasion.Cyrino introduces the reader to the idea of Aphrodite embodying the concept of Mixis. She claims that Aphrodite represents the “blending of bodies in intimate physical contact, both sexual and martial”.[i] Mawr states that in Cyrino overuses of the word mixis and “weakens its effective usefulness as an interpretive tool.[ii] But I believe that mixis is the starting point to view Aphrodite as a binary goddess linked to many opposites; sea and sky and love and war are the most obvious.Not only is she a goddess of female sexuality but in uniting male and female individuals she encompasses both their sexual ideals. The individuals that she unites were of course not just mortals, any combination of god, titan, nymph or mortal could be united under Aphrodite’s power, either in sex or combat. She was a wife and an adulteress. She has a dual parenthood, in one account she is the offspring of Ouranos alone[iii] in the other she has two parents, Zeus and Dione.[iv] Aphrodite also represented the struggle between the desires of the mind and the groin in her competition for superiority over Athena and to a large extent Zeus. In this competition she also represents the clash between what was expected of a male and female deity.

I interpret Aphrodite’s capacity to represent so many opposites as one of her greatest strengths. Mawr might disagree with Cyrino and say that Aphrodite was not one of the most widely worshiped deities in Ancient Greece\[v\] but I agree with Cyrino. I believe that in some places she received the epithet P*andēmos* meaning “she who belongs to all the people”\[vi\] because with the multitude of different notions that she embodied or were related to her how could she be anything but belonging to all the people?

#mythology #greek gods #greek mythology #aphrodite #athena #zues #mythical society #Wicca #Hera #culture #Greek culture #Greek goddess #Greek gods #female power

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