Vered’s Blog

Although Aphrodite may seem insignificant in the presence of such deities as the sun-god Apollo or the war-like Athena, her power over love is revealed to be very influential upon closer examination.

With a domain that included the innermost feelings of the heart and the source of human passion, Aphrodite had power unlike any other god. Such power is revealed in her actions toward both her faithful followers and those who provoked her anger.

Perhaps the most famous example of Aphrodite’s influence is the Judgment of Paris, an event in which Aphrodite’s actions indirectly caused the Trojan War.

This incident, the sign to a decade-long war which gained the attention of all gods and heroes of the day, shows the power of love over human actions. As the owner of such powers, Aphrodite had the ability to influence the most important events in mythological history.

Aphrodite was very generous in using her powers to help her followers. She helped Meilanion gain Atalanta for his wife by giving him the golden apples that enabled him to distract and overtake Atalanta in a foot race.

She had her son Eros strike Medea with one of his arrows so that she would fall in love with Jason of the Argonauts, which resulted in his overcoming her father Aeetes and gaining the Golden Fleece.

She also cared for the orphaned daughters of Panderos and arranged for their marriages.

Aphrodite also used her powers to destroy those who tried to disturb or prevent the natural workings of love and sexuality.

To punish Glaucus for refusing to let his mares breed, she caused the mares to throw him from his chariot during a race, after which they ate him.

She caused the Sirens to grow wings as a result of their wishing to remain virgins. In other instances, Aphrodite punished other slights by causing the person responsible for to experience misfortune in the areas of love or beauty. After being insulted by six of Poseidon’s sons, she struck them mad so that they gang-raped their mother.

She caused Aegus to be childless until he introduced her worship in Athens. When the women of Astypalaea angered her by claiming to be more beautiful than she, she made them grow cow horns.

Clearly, Aphrodite’s abilities were not simply a tool for creating petty loves. They were in fact a real instrument of power which could affect all beings.

Aphrodite shows and teaches us how powerful our love can be. She can be a role model for us that beyond anything else love can become a powerful force in our lives and not some weak element as we see it in today’s songs and culture, where being in love is losing our power.

Nest time – How can we use Aphrodite’s power and lessons in our daily life today.