The Main Symbols of Aphrodite in Greek Mythology
Seashell A scalloped seashell is often associated with Aphrodite, due to the fact that this goddess of love and beauty was born out of sea foam. In artistic depictions of Aphrodite’s birth, she’s often shown emerging from a scalloped shell, and the goddess is frequently connected to the beauty and fertility of the ocean, as well. The captivating, luminous seashell may also represent Aphrodite’s famed beauty and vanity.
White Dove The dove is one of Aphrodite’s most prominent symbols, likely due to doves’ connection with love and beauty (the two things that Aphrodite represents). Doves also symbolize peace and purity, so they’re often used in artistic depictions of Aphrodite to represent her gentle yet alluring nature. The goddess was often depicted as sitting in a chariot pulled by doves, making them her constant and frequent companions.
Myrtle & Rose Unsurprisingly, as the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite boasts two beautiful flowers as symbols. The rose, one of her floral symbols, is used to represent love, passion, and beauty. The goddess is often seen wearing a crown of roses and, according to myth, the flower sprang up from the blood of Adonis, her mortal lover. The myrtle, on the other hand, is a flowering shrub that represents Aphrodite’s eternal love and fertility. The goddess once turned her priestess into a myrtle tree to protect her, and a wreath of the flowers was also presented to Aphrodite by Paris after he selected her as the most beautiful goddess. To this day, many brides include myrtle in their wedding bouquets to symbolize love and beauty.
Sparrow Sparrows were believed to serve as Aphrodite’s messengers, carrying her powers of love and desire far and wide. The small birds traditionally symbolize passion and a spiritual love connection, granting them an obvious association with the goddess of love and beauty. Like doves, sparrows were often depicted as flying around Aphrodite or pulling her chariot.
Swan A swan is another bird commonly associated with Aphrodite, specifically due to its graceful movements and elegant appearance. Fittingly, the goddess of beauty is often shown with swans alongside her. Swans also mate for life, symbolizing Aphrodite’s role as a fertility goddess who oversees procreation and everlasting love.
Dolphin Like the seashell, dolphins are another symbol connecting this goddess to the sea. Aphrodite was born from seafoam, so she’s often depicted alongside seaside vistas and marine elements (like dolphins). Dolphins are also known for being gentle and nurturing creatures, so they represent the more emotional and loving side of the goddess.
Mirror With a reputation for being the most beautiful goddess on Mount Olympus, Aphrodite is often depicted with a mirror to represent her good looks and vanity. However, this mirror can also be tied to the love deity’s knack for fostering self-reflection and self-acceptance in others, enabling them to discover their own worth before finding love and attraction in others.
Who is Aphrodite?
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, desire, and fertility. She’s primarily associated with passion and sexual desire, but she also plays a hand in marriage and procreation. As one of the Twelve Olympians, Aphrodite is commonly accepted as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, although accounts of her birth from sea foam cast some doubt on her exact parentage. In myth, she’s married to Hephaestus (the god of the forge), but she has frequent affairs with figures like Ares, Poseidon, Hermes, Dionysus, Anchises, and Adonis. She also had multiple children, the most notable being Eros (the Greek version of Cupid) and Aeneas (a prominent Trojan hero). Aphrodite’s Roman counterpart is known as Venus, but she also had numerous other names and epithets in Ancient Greece, including Ourania (“Heavenly”), Pandemos (“Of All People”), Euploia (“Good Sailing”), and Genetyllis (“Protector of Births”).
Aphrodite’s Most Important Myths
Birth from the Sea In most popular tellings, Aphrodite was born out of sea foam. According to the myth, the Titan Cronus (who was the father of the Twelve Olympians) castrated his own father, Uranus, with a sickle. Cronus then threw Uranus’ severed genitals into the sea, where the water began to churn and foam around the genitals. From the churning foam emerged Aphrodite as a beautiful, fully grown woman. The goddess then washed ashore with Eros and Himeros—the gods of love and desire—by her side.
The Judgement of Paris Aphrodite had a prominent role in the Judgement of Paris, in which Paris chose Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess (as opposed to Athena or Hera). In return for Paris’ choice, Aphrodite offered the hand of Helen, the most beautiful mortal woman. Paris then abducted Helen from her husband, Menelaus, and took her to Troy, which kickstarted the bloody, notorious events of the Trojan War.
Affair with Ares Despite her long-term relationship with Hephaestus, god of the forge, Aphrodite was said to be unhappy with her husband and would frequently seek affairs outside of the marriage. Her most notable affair was with Ares, god of war. Their passionate relationship recurs throughout Greek myth, including when the vengeful Hephaestus traps the lovers in a net and calls upon the other gods to publicly shame them.
The Myth of Adonis Aphrodite had numerous godly affairs in Greek mythology, but one of her most famous was with a mortal man—Adonis. The goddess of beauty fell head over heels for Adonis, who’s often described as the most exceptionally handsome man on Earth. Concerned for his safety, Aphrodite sends Adonis to the Underworld to live under the protection of Persephone. However, Persephone also falls madly in love with him and refuses to return him to Aphrodite. Zeus intervenes to resolve the conflict and decrees that Adonis will spend four months of the year with Persephone, four with Aphrodite, and the final four as he wishes. Adonis ends up being gored and killed by a boar—in some versions, this happens naturally during a hunt, and in other versions, a jealous Ares sends the boar to kill the handsome mortal. Either way, Aphrodite’s heart is shattered, and she sprinkles nectar onto her lover’s blood, causing flowers to spring up from it.
Pygmalion and Galatea Pygmalion was a mortal sculptor who created a beautiful ivory statue of a woman, whom he named Galatea. Pygmalion fell deeply in love with this statue and prayed to Aphrodite that the statue would come to life. Aphrodite granted Pygmalion’s wish and transformed the stunning Galatea into a real woman. Galatea and Pygmalion then married and lived happily together, showcasing Aphrodite’s immense powers and devotion to true love.
Representations of Aphrodite in Classical Art
Aphrodite is often depicted as a nude or draped figure in paintings, statues, and more. As a physical representation of feminine beauty, sensuality, and passion, Aphrodite is typically depicted in a sensuous and alluring way. Most often, she’s nude or partially draped with thin, floaty fabrics. It’s also common for her to be shown rising from the sea, crouching in preparation for a bath, or standing alongside her important feminine symbols (e.g., doves, swans, seashells, etc.). Here are some of the most prominent and important depictions of Aphrodite in art, along with their meanings and significance: Aphrodite of Knidos: This ancient sculpture by Praxiteles was one of the first nude depictions of Aphrodite, paving the way for many future iterations of the goddess. The Birth of Venus: Sandro Botticelli’s Renaissance-era painting shows Aphrodite emerging from the sea on a giant scallop shell just after her birth. Venus de Milo: This infamously elegant Greek sculpture (with missing arms) was discovered on the island of Milos and believed to be a depiction of Aphrodite.
What about the Venus symbol?
The Venus symbol comes from the Roman goddess of love and beauty. While the Venus symbol (♀) could certainly be considered a symbol of Aphrodite, it’s more closely associated (and named for) Venus, who is Aphrodite’s Roman counterpart. It’s thought that the symbol is meant to depict the goddess’s hand mirror, with the circular section representing the mirror and the cross section representing the handle. In modern times, however, the Venus symbol is used universally as a common symbol for femininity and the female sex.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aphrodite
What is the etymology of Aphrodite’s name? The name “Aphrodite” is largely believed to be derived from the Greek word aphros, meaning “foam.” This etymology references the myth of the goddess being born from seafoam.
How is Aphrodite worshipped? Aphrodite was (and is) typically worshiped through the creation of altars and the offering of certain symbolic items. Worshippers would then perform specific rituals or acts that emulated love, self-love, beauty, or self-care. For instance, one might make an altar with symbols like scallop shells, mirrors, or dove figurines. Then, they’d likely offer sacred objects of the goddess, such as roses, myrtle, honey, wine, milk, seashells, or sea glass. After creating the Aphrodite altar, a worshipper would recite a prayer or hymn dedicated to the goddess. Other ways to worship or honor Aphrodite include acts of self-care, like taking a bath, acts of compassion, like being generous with others, and connecting with nature, like bathing in a body of water or walking in a garden.
What does Aphrodite represent spiritually? Aphrodite spiritually represents concepts of love, beauty, and connection. She can be used to symbolize both romantic and platonic love, as well as divine love. In modern interpretations, Aphrodite is often used to spiritually represent self-love and self-acceptance, as well as an appreciation for one’s own beauty and uniqueness.
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