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GREEK GODDESS: APHRODITE

The twelve Olympian gods of the pantheon governed the universe and commanded the lesser gods. One of the twelve, called Aphrodite, which literally means, "out of foam," was the goddess of sexual rapture,beauty and the arts. Most scholars recognize that Aphrodite's origin actually pre-dates the ancient Greeks and Romans. Her Sumerian/Babylonian origins (3000-1800 BC) claim that her powers were associated with fertility, growth, harvesting of crops, war, love and death.

Although she had only one husband, she had multiple love affairs and bore many children. Aphrodite's gift to us is Eros, her divine son, also known as Cupid. Ares, the god of war was her longest love affair; while Adonis was her most famous mortal lover. In Greek mythology there are many versions of her birth.

BIRTH STORY ONE
Popularized by Homer in the "Iliad," we find that her mother was Dione, a Titan earth goddess, and her father was Zeus, the supreme god of the sky, and ruler of Olympus.

BIRTH STORY TWO
According to Hesiod's "Theogeny," Uranus (god of heaven) was harsh to his wife and kids. His son, Cronus, sent by his mother, Gaia, threw his father out of heaven. Cronus castrated Uranus with a sickle and threw his genitals into the sea; which in turn gave birth to Aphrodite. She arose from the sea as a beautiful, naked, fully formed woman riding on a glistening scallop shell. Blown by a sweet wind to the island of Cythera, she was met by the four seasons, dancing and singing her praises. As she stepped off her pillow of sea foam, they adorned her with golden robes and fine jewels, and led her to Mount Olympus. As you might imagine, every god wanted to marry her; but Zeus, to prevent a civil war in Olympus, gave her to Hephaetus, the crippled, ugly god of the forge. Her husband made her many fine jewels, including a girdle of finely wrought gold with magic woven into the filigree work. This girdle only served to enhance her magnetic appeal.

POSITIVE QUALITIES
Considered a very assertive and active goddess, Aphrodite was unreserved as well as receptive, possessing the inherent qualities of grace, elegance and charm. She liked gaiety and social interaction. She has been called the goddess of fertile imagination and inspires intense thought. Idealized for her sensual beauty, her tenderhearted ways, and her romantic adventures, she is said to have a taming influence on gods and men through her gifts of art and culture. Most importantly, using

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