The Shrine of Aphrodite

Artfully adorned Aphrodite, deathless
child of Zeus and weaver of wiles I beg you
please don't hurt me, don't overcome my spirit, goddess, with longing

but come here, if ever at other moments
hearing these my words from afar you listened
and responded: leaving your father's house, all golden, you came then.

hitching up your chariot: lovely sparrows
drew you quickly over the dark earth, whirling
on fine beating wings from the heights of heaven down through the sky and

instantly arrived--and then O my blessed
goddess with a smile on your deathless face you
asked me what the matter was this time, what I called you for this time,

what I now most wanted to happen in my
raving heart: "Whom this time should I persuade to
lead you back again to her love? Who now, oh Sappho, who wrongs you?

If she flees you now, she will soon pursue you;
if she won't accept what you give, she'll give it;
if she doesn't love you, she'll love you soon, even unwilling."

Come to me again, and release me from this
want past bearing. All that my heart desires to
happen--make it happen. And stand beside me, goddess, my ally.
��Sappho of Lesbos

I am the Goddess CYPRIA, mighty among people
They honor me by many names.
From the tides of Pontus to the Pillars of Atlas
These lands are mine to rule.
To those who acknowledge my power,
I give honors and rewards.
But to those who defy me
I shall swing them by their heels.
For how can I be joyous in my heart,
If I am not honored by my people?
��Aeschylus

The Mirror of Venus
by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, 1898

Of august gold-wreathed and beautiful Aphrodite
I shall sing, to whose domain belong the battlements
of all sea-laved Cyprus where, blown by the moist breath of Zephyros,
she was carried over the waves of the resounding sea

in soft foam. The gold-filleted Horae
happily welcomed her and clothed her with heavenly raiment.
Then on her divine head they placed a well-wrought crown,
beautiful and golden, and in her pierced ears
flowers of brass and precious gold.

Round her tender neck and silver-white breasts
They decked her with golden necklaces such as the gold-filleted
Horae themselves are adorned with whenever they go
to lovely dances of the gods and to their father�s house.
And after they decked her body with every sort of jewel,

they brought her to the immortals, who saw and welcomed her,
giving her their hands, and each one wished
that he might take her home as his wedded wife;
for they marveled at the looks of violet-crowned Kythereia.
Hail, honey-sweet goddess with the fluttering eyelids!
��from The Homeric Hymns

Detail of An Allegory with Venus and Time
by Giambattista Tiepolo, c. 1754-7

She came to Ida, Ida of the streams,
with gray wolves behind her and bright lions
and thick bears and quick hungry panthers.
They moved like dancers around her.
She moved like a woman in love.
And when they saw this, they grew
hot and full of longing--even animals grow
hot and full of longing in her presence--
and two by two they left her, following
each other into the valleys to mate,
their bodies hot and full of longing.
And so, we too. And so, we too
��from The Homeric Hymns

Venus and Cupid
by Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, 18th century

Winter unclenches its fists, stroked
by spring breezes from the west.
The ocean opens itself to the keels of ships.
Cattle grow restless in the stable,
we grow restless at our firesides,
and the white frost melts away from the glass.

At night the moon hovers over
a sacred dance, which Aphrodite
leads as the Graces and light nymphs follow her.
Now is the season for garlanding
our hair with myrtle and flowers,
now is the time to rejoice with the happy earth.
��Horace

Detail of Rinaldo and Armida in Her Garden
Giambattista Tiepolo, c. 1745,
which brings to mind Aphrodite and Ares

Here are some little trinkets, goddess, because
I know you love baubles, and I want you to smile.

Here are some cakes, Aphrodite, sweet ones
for a goddess. I hope these make you happy.

And me? Oh, I want little in return: only your gaze
watching me as I travel to my lover. Only your gaze,

shining like a star or the sun on my path, as I move
between ports through my life, searching for love.
��Greek offering prayer

Detail of Venus and the Goddess of the Waters
Unknown artist, c. 1560

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