The Greek Goddess Aphrodite (from the word "aphros" or "sea foam") is the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and sexual desire. It was said she was born when Cronus castrated his father Uranus and tossed his severed genitals into the sea at which point Aphrodite rose from the churning sea foam in a seashell. She is wife to Hephaestus, the lame god of the forge and metalworking. He presented her with a gold girdle which compelled anyone she wished to desire her. She was definitely not faithful to her husband, whom she considered shameful and unattractive, having many divine and mortal lovers. Her divine lovers include Ares (her three children by Ares are Phobos, Deimos, and Harmonia), Dionysus (Priapus), Hermes (Hermaphroditus), and Poseidon (Rhodus and Herophilus). Her mortal lovers include Adonis and Anchises (Aeneas) among others. Her son Eros (a.k.a. Cupid) is love's messenger. Her attendants are the Horae and the Charities. She is the patronness of gardens and gardeners as well as lovers. She wasn't only a sweet and passionate goddess of love. She often used her passion to bring men to their knees. Her influnce over men was oftentimes deadly (she set the Trojan War in motion). Also, she was oftentimes harsh and malicious to those who defied her. For example, the Lemnian women did not honor her and for that, she placed a foul smell upon then which made their husbands turn to the Thracian women. Examples of her many victims include Helen of Troy, Medea, Ariadne, and Phaedra. The islands of Cythera and Cyprus were the primary places Aphrodite's worship. "Aphrodisiac" is celebrated in many centers of Greece. Her priestesses were not prostitutes but representatives of the goddess, using sexual intercourse as a means of worship. She is identified with Astarte, the Phoenician goddess of fertility and with the Roman goddess Venus.
Trees sacred to Aphrodite: Apple, Lime, Myrrh, Myrtle, Palm, Pomegranite, Quince.
Herbs sacred to Aphrodite: Anemone, Aster, Benzoin, Campion, Crocus, Daisy, Mandrake, Marjoram, Orris Root, Parsley, Periwinkle, Poppy, Rose, Violet.
Animals sacred to Aphrodite: Swan, dove, sparrow, dolphin
References:
-The Witches’ Web of Moon Deities
-The Encyclopedia Mythica
-Greek Mythology Today
-Greek Mythology
-Gerina Dunwich /Wicca Craft/ Paperback / Carol Publishing Group / May 1991
-D.J. Conway /Maiden, Mother, Crone/ Paperback / Llewellyn Publications / July 1994
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