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disarmed her lovers and allowed the magic of eros to flow between them. She was able to offer romantic love as well as intellectual/emotional companionship. Compassionate in nature, she was able to bring out their feelings and creativity.

NEGATIVE QUALITIES
Aphrodite punished those who refused to honor her beauty and deity properly. For instance, Hippolytus was punished for refusing her erotic demands. Because Aphrodite lived in the moment, she didn't always consider the consequences of her immediate urges and passionate desires. Aphrodite also had trouble with the other goddesses, who became jealous of her because of her flirtatious manner. The vanity of Aphrodite can be seen when Cinyrar, the king of Cyprus, boasted that his daughter, Smyrna, was more beautiful than Aphrodite. She made Smyrna fall in love with her own father. One night when he had been drinking, Smyrna joined him in his bed and he impregnated her. Disgraced, he forced his daughter to flee at the point of his sword.

Aphrodite had the power to transform the ordinary into something beautiful. Like most of us, she had many facets to her personality. It has been said that as a culture we are so obsessed with her physical charms and erotic images that we have lost touch with her sacred dimensions. We can learn many useful lessons from her life, like how to combine creative sexual love with innovative intellectual pursuits and emotional depth. Aphrodites gifts to the arts and culture should not be overlooked, for their vital contributions to all mankind cannot be denied.

Learn more about this author, Kathy Stemke.
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