Aphrodite

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Bullfinch once said "Mythology is the handmaid of literature...". That means that
mythology is necessarily subservient or subordinate to literature. I personally think that
is not true. Let me introduce myself. My name is Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and
sexual desire. Mythology is important and interesting . In fact, I think I may be the most
interesting of all the gods. Well, at least the most beautiful. In this auto biographical
paper I will reveal to you who I am, how I relate to mythology, and a famous story about
myself.
Let me start with my birth. Many think I was born out of murder. They say that
when Cronos butchered his father he flung the dismembered body into the sea, where it
floated spouting blood and foam. From the foam rose me, a tall beautiful maiden with
long blond hair the color of daffodils. Other legends say that I am the daughter of Cronos
and Rheia or Jupiter and Dionne. I am married to Hephaestus, god of fire and metal
work. Shortly after birth my poor husband was cast out of Olympus because of his
deformities. My son is the famous arrow shooting Cupid. We are almost always together
and Cupid is always shooting darts of desire in to the bosoms of Gods and men. I hate to
admit it but in a way I am responsible for the Trojan War. One day Discord threw an
apple on to Olympus to be given to the most beautiful goddess. Hera, Athene, and I all
tried to claim the title. Each of us tried to persaude the judge, Paris, in our favor. Hera
told him he would be a powerful ruler, Athene promised him that he would receive great
military fame, and I guaranteed him Helen of Troy's hand in marriage. He then declared
me the fairest of all, and abducted Helen of Troy thus beginning the Trojan War. I have
also inspired many paintings, sculptures, and poetry. The most famous painting featuring
me is the Birth of Venus. It is a very famous painting from the Renaissance. As you can
see I am one of the most important goddess and have influenced mythology immensely.
I relate to mythology by being the goddess of love and beauty. My Roman name is
Venus. My work is my pleasure, my profession, and my hobby. I think about nothing but
love and nobody expects any more from me. My job is to make other gods and goddess
fall in love with each other. I am ashamed to say that I have had many lovers and have
had children from these other men. They are Lyrus, Eryt, Beroe, Herophilus, and many
others. It must be that darn magic girdle. It enables the wearer to have any man or god
she chooses under her spell just by him saying her name or catching a glimpse of her. As
you can see it causes me a lot of trouble and embarrassment. I think being the goddess of
love and beauty was an important role in mythology that left its effect on the rest of
civilization.

One of the most famous stories about me is one that includes my lover Ares. One
day Helios the sun god, who sees everything, noticed me and my lover Ares lying side by
side. He told my husband Hephaestus who said nothing. Later that night he prepared an
invisible net, which he spread around my bed. When I went to bed with my lover the net
closed around us and we found ourselves completely immobilized. My husband then
summoned all the gods to come and view the spectacle. When he released me I ran off in
shame and embarrassment. Another one of my famous stories is about me starting the
Trojan War which I already mentioned. Being a goddess can be exciting but also
scandalous!!

Revealing to you who I am, how I relate to mythology, and famous anecdotes
about myself was the main theme of my paper. Now you know a little about me and
mythology. Mythology is an important part of our history and understanding mythology
will help you to understand many works of literature and poetry. This paper is only a brief
piece of all the parts of mythology and I encourage you all to go out and discover about
the Greek gods and goddess of long ago!