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the Egyptian goddess Isis. Her power and influence as the divine feminine has survived thousands of years. Don't tell Aphrodite, but Isis was also worshipped during the Greco-Roman era and even the early Christians gave her a religious high-five. While she isn't specifically known as the ancient Egyptian goddess of love, she encapsulates the emotion, particularly as the wife of Osiris. The woman pieced together her murdered, dismembered husband, gave him one last thrill with a magical penis she fashioned from gold, and managed to get pregnant. If that ain't love, what is?

The cat-headed Bast, or Bastet was originally known as a protector. She not only watched over the sun god and her father, Ra, she also offered protection to the pharaoh. The cultural influence of the Greeks, who closely associated Bast with Artemis, probably contributed to Bast's later known role as the goddess of love, fertility, and sensual pleasure. Bast was also known as the goddess of dance, perfume, cats, women, and secrets. If one could throw purveyor of chocolate into that mix, Bast would certainly be the patron goddess of chick lit.

FREYA AND FRIENDS: Norsemen had a pragmatic and stark view of life. You live. You die. The only bright spot in either life or death was whether or not you behaved heroically. Even the gods who lived in Asgard (heaven) were doomed to die. However, the love goddesses were still working their mojo while waiting for Ultimate Destruction.

Freya was the Icelandic Aphrodite. She ruled fertility and war and thus, took care of sex and violence in the Norse world. Named in some texts as the goddess of love and lust, she was beautiful, clever, sexy, and loved gold. She slept with four dwarf jewelers to obtain the special necklace they'd crafted.

Freya didn't have the whole love and lust gig to herself. Marriage was the domain of Frigg, the mother goddess, who was also wife to Odin and queen of Asgard. Siofn, which means affection, was known as the goddess of love and, surprise, affection. Since the Norse didn't have Dr. Phil, relationship issues were given to the goddess Lofn, who watched over the commitments between men and women.

BENZAITEN: Benzaiten, also known as Benten, is often named as a sea goddess in Japanese myths. Many of her temples are located near rivers and lakes. Benzaiten is the only goddess among the Seven Gods of Good Fortunetalk about getting into a boys-only club! She is associated with the Hindu goddess of wisdom, Sarasvati, and appears

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