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Goddess and God Archetypes - Descriptions




Aphrodite (Venus)

Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty and love. Golden Aphrodite's magical energy made people fall in love and inspired them to great creative heights. She was beautiful and was often portrayed nude or semi-nude, comfortable in her skin. She chose Hephaestus the craftsman as her husband, but also had many lovers and children outside her marriage. No one could own Aphrodite. She often came to the help of mortals in love, bringing the statue of Galatea to life for Pygmalion, giving Hippomenes golden apples to woo Atalanta with, helping Paris win Helen of Troy as his bride and then defending him in the seige of Troy. Eros (Cupid), the god of love, was sometimes considered to be one of her sons. Aphrodite was the aboveground (extraverted) counterpart of Persephone, and a female counterpart of Dionysus, who also inspired people.

Modern Aphrodites are mere mortals, and cannot be all things to all people like the goddess was, but they're still free spirits. Being with them is fun - they rejuvenate you, make you feel special, but then they're on to the next person. Don't take it personally - they just like everyone. They're in love with life, and everyone and everything in it by extension. Aphrodites are unconventional, outgoing, energetic, enthusiastic, bubbly, creative, intense, and unpredictable. They are typically informal, natural, playful, fun, unpretentious, candid, maybe even ingenuous. They can be irreverently funny or dramatic, and may laugh or cry easily. They enjoy change and move impulsively from one passion to the next. They are likeable, considerate, generous, and cheerfully positive. They often go blonde to match their sunny natures. Aphrodites are typically sensuous, comfortable in their bodies and unselfconscious about sex. However, Aphrodite was the goddess of falling in love, not the goddess of casual sex: she has a vulnerability that is part of falling in love, and modern Aphrodites also have a soft sensitive core. Relationships are important to them. While Hera is associated with men, Demeter with children, and Persephone with soulmates, Aphrodite is associated with everyone. She loves everyone and everyone loves her (especially children). Aphrodites are probably the most popular type.

Themes

the sex goddess; the ditz; the Girl Friday (sexy secretary); the dizzy blonde; the bad girl in a sexually repressive society

Ancient symbols

the dove

the swan

flowers, especially roses

sweet scents

golden apples, pomegranates and other fruit

Modern symbols

bees and honey

Labrador Retrievers

gold

golden light

the chalice


Other goddesses

Venus as the evening star

Inanna, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Asherah, Ariadne?, Chione? (Middle-East and Greece)

Examples

  • Actresses: Loni Anderson*; Pamela Anderson; Clara Bow*; Geena Davis; Cameron Diaz; Dawn French*; Betty Grable; Jean Harlow*; Goldie Hawn*; Lisa Kudrow; Cheryl Ladd; Tina Louise; Jayne Mansfield; Marilyn Monroe*; Suzanne Somers*; Betty White
  • Other: Shere Hite* (sociologist); Sarah, Duchess of York* (U.K.)

Fictional Aphrodites

Smurfette

Ginger on Gilligan's Island

Jennifer on WKRP in Cincinnati

Aphrodite on Hercules and Xena

Starfire (DC Comics)

"*" indicates I have read biographical material on this person
Themes: anyone can be a hero, a villain, a woman in peril, or a lover

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