Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love. Her Roman name is Venus. She is associated with the island of Cyprus, where she is said to have risen from the sea-foam.

Aphrodite plays a key role in the story of Troy. Three goddesses, Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite asked Paris, prince of Troy, to judge which of them was the fairest. The prince chose Aphrodite. As a reward, she gave him the love of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world (and wife of the Greek King Menelaus). When Paris ran off to Troy with Helen, the Greeks sent an army to Troy to take her back to Greece.

Aphrodite is married to Hephaestus, the lame god of blacksmiths. She has eyes for Ares, the god of war, and one time her jealous husband threw a net over her and Ares when he found them together.

Filed under : Who's Who of the Greek Gods.