Does anybody have info on Aphrodite?

[Lemony goodness]

Or know where I can get a good deal of it? I discovered that She's my patroness last night. It's kind of funny, actually, because my patron is Lord Ganesha, Who is from a completely different pantheon. All information and tidbits are appreciated.

[Pure Ahimsa]

Maybe "Google" her?
That is awesome, how did you figure she was your patroness?

[Lemony goodness]

She came to me last night. That's how I found out.

[Lemony goodness]

I found this on Google:

In The Odyssey of Homer (8.266), a singer tells the tale of how Aphrodite and Ares secretly laid together in the bed of her husband, Lord Hephaestus. Helios, the sun, secretly observed the lovers and told Hephaestus. The smith went to his work and devised clever fastenings that would ensnare and hold the lovers in an unbreakable trap. The careless lovers fell into the trap and Hephaestus stood before the other Olympians and demanded his gifts of courtship be returned. Only after Poseidon offered to pay the adulterer’s damages if Ares defaulted would Hephaestus loose the bonds. After being freed, Aphrodite went to her sacred precinct on Cyprus where she was bathed by the Graces and Ares went Thraceward. Seeing the two lovers in the indignity of the snare, Apollo asked Hermes how he would feel in such a situation. Hermes answered that he would suffer thrice the number of bonds if only he could share the bed of Aphrodite the Golden (Odyssey 8.342).

[Hope3645]

Merry Meet Lemony goodness,
I only know basic stuff about Aphrodite, but here is an idea that I haven't heard anyone mention before. My roommate last year decided to dedicate herself to Aphrodite, and that her element is fire (I know that it is not really up to us to decide these things, but she is kind of fluffy). My first thought was that this made perfect sense, for my roommate and for the goddess to be associated with fire. Then of course, she said that she knew it would be hard to be a fire element and work with a water goddess. I know that most neo-pagan books classify her as a water symbol, but I am not so sure about this. In everything I've read, Aphrodite seems to be much more about sex (passion=fire) than about love (emotion=water). In the symposium Plato says that vulgar, earthly love (the kind were sex, or a relationship is simply for the sake of physical pleasure) is the realm of Aphrodite, and that pure, heavenly love (the kind based on a friendship/soul mate type love) is the realm of Eros (who later became Cupid).
Of course, there is a distinction between Aphrodite and Venus just as there is a distinction between Greek culture, and Roman culture. I need to research this more, but it would be strange if there were enough difference to give the two different elements!
This is only my idea, but it seems to be shared by Plato (although instead of an element I'm sure he would use forms) who was Greek.

[Aidron]

Aphrodite is an interesting figure throughout Greek history. She is both responsible for great love affairs and great turmoil, which is to be expected. Earn any deity's favor and reap the rewards, cross them and prepare for catastrophe.

She is said to have begun the Trojan War in some instances by promising Paris the most beautiful bride in the world should he select her as the most beautiful of all goddesses (Athene and Hera being the other two he could have selected from). When she gave him Helen of Troy (some instances claim she physically gave him to her, but most often it is conveyed that she caused Helen to fall in love with Paris) the seeds for war were sewn.

She had numerous love affairs (naturally, being the Goddess of love and sexuality) with both gods and mortals. From marrying Hephaestus, to taking Hermes and Ares to bed, to various mortals she could definitely be looked upon as a sexual predator, going after those who enticed her and seducing them. Even Hermes is recorded as stating "The embarassment is worth the pleasures of being with Aphrodite (paraphrased) in response to Ares and Aphrodite being exposed in humiliation for their affair.

It is also said that only three beings in all of the cosmos could resist her charms, those three being Athene, Artemis and Hestia. Everyone else was powerless against her seductive aura and powers of love.

She was born from the genitals of Uranos (Ouranos) in some versions of her birth, when his genitals were cast down into the sea after being castrated. Foam formed around the genitals and Aphrodite sprung forth. In other stories she is simply said to have formed from pure foam, the seamen of the sea.

I could go on and on, but Google should turn up far more.

[-Ember]

For anyone associated with Greek goddesses (actually, any goddesses... but especially Greek) I suggest "Goddesses" (I believe that is the title) by Christine Downing. It is a bit jungian, but she is very well trained in the classics and each chapter explores her relationship with a different Goddess, often bringing out aspects of ancient mythology and worship that are less well known (and as a professor of classical mythology, knows how to cite her sources... a real pleasure...). It also brings out some of what can happen when you mix an ancient goddess and modern sensibilities.

[Merrick]

Aphrodite; "Goddesss" of beauty, was born from seafoam and came to the earth in a giant clam shell. Her son is Cupid, God of love.
...i think that right anyway

[Sammy]

http://www.moonspeaker.ca/Aphrodite/aphrodite.html

This is a really good site. :) If I may ask, how did she come to you? Sounds wonderful... :D

[Verthandi]

Aphrodite; "Goddesss" of beauty, was born from seafoam and came to the earth in a giant clam shell. Her son is Cupid, God of love.
...i think that right anyway
May I ask why Goddess is in quotes?