NOW that Valentine’s Day is fast-approaching, everyone is under the spell of love. As February 14 approaches, many people are preoccupied with their preparations for the special day and engage in a lot of beauty rituals.

Everyone wants to be their very best selves, especially on the day of love, which is just a little extra special.

People spend a little more this time just so they could unleash their most captivating versions for their special someone.

It is also the time of year when people invoke the name of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty.

Let’s get to know Aphrodite and see why some worship her mind, body, and beauty..

Who is Aphrodite?

Aphrodite is one of the twelve Olympian gods and is the Greek goddess not just of love and beauty, but also of eternal youth, pleasure and procreation.

She is often depicted as a beautiful woman accompanied by the winged godling, Eros. She is often seen with a dove, an apple, a scallop shell and a mirror. In classical sculptures, she is usually depicted nude.

Origin of Aphrodite

According to Theogony or the birth and genealogy of the gods made by Greek poet Hesiod, Aphrodite was born from the foam in the waters of Paphos in the island of Cyprus. She supposedly arose from the foam when Cronus, the leader of the first generation of Titans, slew his father Uranus and threw his genitals into the sea.

However, according to Homer’s Iliad, Aphrodite may well be the daughter of Zeus and Dione. As with other Greek deities, their origins are told in more than one story.

Aphrodite’s beauty

Aphrodite is best known for stunning aesthetic and inexplicable sexual appeal. She is universally depicted as the embodiment of unattainable beauty.

She was so captivating that her existence was marked by adulterous affairs, as well as her capability to stir up romance between and among gods and mortals effortlessly.

Aphrodite’s interesting traits and features

There is so much more to learn about Aphrodite. Some of the things about her are not really worth emulating, but others are truly captivating.

Powerful belt

It isn’t only Aphrodite herself who is gifted with luscious powers, even her accessories have otherworldly capacities.

Her belt, sometimes called the magic girdle, has the power to spark desire and cause men and gods to hopelessly fall for whoever is wearing it.

Married but still looking

Aphrodite is married to Hephaestus, who is known for being ugly. Apparently, marriage did not stop the beautiful goddess from having a long list of lovers including god Ares and mortal Anchises.

Aphrodite proves that beauty, too, can rouse chaos.

Does not take rejection well

Yes, her beauty had an effect on many, but not all. Take the case of Hyppolytus for example. He chose Artemis over Aphrodite.

But rejection did not sit well with the goddess of love.

And so as an act of vengeance, Aphrodite made Hyppolytus’ stepmother Phaedra fall for him and both eventually wound up dead.

Yes, she is not one merciful beauty.

She did not have a signature style

Aphrodite is depicted in more ways than one. Artworks showing her portray her differently. There is no distinctive feature or attribute for Aphrodite, but she is often presented in her perfectly symmetrical, often nude glory.

She inspires creative obsession

Because she is beautiful, she is often the subject of more artworks than any other figure in classical mythology.

She is often the inspiration behind many paintings, sculptures and even literary compositions.

She defines fierce

Not only does she not take rejection well, she does not allow anybody to disrespect her, either.

This was evident during an incident involving her and a man named Glaucus who insulted her. To get even, she fed his horses with magic water that caused them to turn against him in a chariot race.

Besides crushing him, the horses, too, ate his body.

Cool mom

Yes, Aphrodite has a son, Eros, also known as Cupid. Her little boy, besides being loving and fiercely loyal to his mom, also often accompanied her on official love business.

Some also said she, too, could have been the mom of Phobos, Deimos, Harmonia and Aeneas.