All 11 Uses of
Aphrodite
in
The Odyssey
- To Helen the gods had granted
no more offspring once she had borne her first child,
the breathtaking Hermione,
a luminous beauty gold as Aphrodite.†p. 125.0Aphrodite = Greek mythology: goddess of love and beauty
- I grieved too late for the madness
Aphrodite sent me, luring me there, far from my dear land,
forsaking my own child, my bridal bed, my husband too,
a man who lacked for neither brains nor beauty.†p. 132.8 *
- A rippling prelude—
now the bard struck up an irresistible song:
The Love of Ares and Aphrodite Crowned with Flowers ...
how the two had first made love in Hephaestus' mansion,
all in secret.†p. 200.1
- As soon as he saw the Master Craftsman leave
he plied his golden reins and arrived at once
and entered the famous god of fire's mansion,
chafing with lust for Aphrodite crowned with flowers.†p. 200.8
- Just because I am crippled, Zeus's daughter Aphrodite
will always spurn me and love that devastating Ares,
just because of his striking looks and racer's legs
while I am a weakling, lame from birth, and who's to blame?†p. 201.4
- So the gods would banter
among themselves but lord Apollo goaded Hermes on:
"Tell me, Quicksilver, giver of all good things—
even with those unwieldy shackles wrapped around you,
how would you like to bed the golden Aphrodite?"†p. 202.3
- Let all you gods look on, and all you goddesses too—
how I'd love to bed that golden Aphrodite!†p. 202.4
- Now down from her chamber came discreet Penelope,
looking for all the world like Artemis or golden Aphrodite—
bursting into tears as she flung her arms around her darling son
and kissed his face and kissed his shining eyes and sobbed,
"You're home, Telemachus!"†p. 355.7
- That left the great king still waiting in his hall
as Athena helped him plot the slaughter of the suitors ...
Now down from her chamber came reserved Penelope,
looking for all the world like Artemis or golden Aphrodite.†p. 392.3
- But radiant Aphrodite nursed them well
on cheese and luscious honey and heady wine,
and Hera gave them beauty and sound good sense,
more than all other women—virgin Artemis made them tall
and Athena honed their skills to fashion lovely work.†p. 412.7
- But then, when Aphrodite approached Olympus' peaks
to ask for the girls their crowning day as brides
from Zeus who loves the lightning—Zeus who knows all,
all that's fated, all not fated, for mortal man—
then the storm spirits snatched them away
and passed them on to the hateful Furies,
yes, for all their loving care.†p. 412.9