Taken from The Greek Gods, द्वारा Evslin, Evslin, & Hoopes.





Aphrodite was the goddess of प्यार and beauty; so there are और stories told about her than anyone else, god या mortal....But all the tales agree that she is the goddess of desire, and, unlike other Olympians, is never distracted from her duties. Her work is her pleasure, her profession, her hobby. She thinks of nothing but love, and nobody expects और of her.


She was born....From the foam rose a tall beautiful maiden, naked and dripping. Waves attended her. Poseidon's white घोड़े brought her to the island of Cythera. Wherever she stepped, the sand turned to घास and फूल bloomed. Then she went to Cyprus. Hillsides burst into flowers, and the air was full of birds.



Zeus brought her to Olympus. She was still dripping from the sea. She wore nothing but the bright tunic of her hair which fell below her knees and was yellow as daffodils. She looked about the great सिंहासन room where the gods were assembled to meet her, arched her throat and laughed with joy.


Hera was watching Zeus narrowly. "You must marry her off," she whispered. "At once - without delay!"
"Yes," कहा Zeus. "Some sort of marriage would seem to be indicated."
And he said, "Brothers, sons, cousins, Aphrodite is to be married. She will choose her own husband. So make your suit."


The gods closed around her, shouting promises, pressing their claims. Earth-shaking Poseidon swung his mighty trident to clear a अंतरिक्ष about himself. "I claim आप for the sea," he said. "You are sea-born, foam-born, and belong to me. I offer आप grottos, riddles, gems, fair surfaces, dark surroundings. I offer आप variety. Drowned sailors, typhoons, sunsets. I offer आप secrets. I offer आप riches that the earth does not know - power और subtle, और fluid than the dull fixed land. Come with me - be क्वीन of the sea."


He slammed his trident on the floor, and a huge green tidal wave swelled out of the sea - high, high as Olympus, curling its mighty green tongue as if to lick up the mountain - and poised there, quivering, not breaking, as the gods gaped. Then Poseidon raised his trident, and the mighty wave subsided like a ripple. He bowed to Aphrodite. She smiled at him, but कहा nothing.


Then the gods spoke in turn, offering her great gifts. Apollo offered her a सिंहासन and a crown made of hottest sun-gold, a golden chariot drawn द्वारा white swans, and the Muses for her handmaids. Hermes offered to make her क्वीन of the crossways where all must come - where she would hear every story, see every traveler, know each deed - a rich pageant of adventure and gossip so that she would never grow bored.


She smiled at Apollo and Hermes and made no answer.


Then Hera, scowling, reached her long white arm and dragged Hephaestus, the lame smith-god, from where he had been hiding behind the others, ashamed to be seen. And she hissed into his ear, "Speak, fool. Say exactly what I told आप to say."


He limped आगे with great embarrassment, and stood before the radiant goddess, eyes cast down, not daring to look at her. He said: "I would make a good husband for a girl like you. I work late."


Aphrodite smiled. She कहा nothing, but put her finger under the chin of the grimy little smith, raised his face, leaned down, and kissed him on the lips.


That night they were married. And at the wedding party she finally spoke - whispering to each of her suitors - telling each one when he might come with his gift.