Continuing the 100,000 "zaps" challenge, I'm working on today's digital art. We're starting a collection of digital art cards featuring the gods of Olympus. It will be a card collection, including some special ones.
Today's card will be Aphrodite.
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman counterpart is Venus.
The Two Origin Stories
There are two main stories about Aphrodite's birth. The first, and more well-known version, comes from the poet Hesiod. He writes that after the Titan Cronus castrated his father Uranus (the sky god), he threw Uranus's severed genitals into the sea. From the sea foam that formed around them, Aphrodite emerged fully grown and naked. She then washed ashore on the island of Cyprus. This origin story, which highlights her connection to the sea, gave her the epithet "Aphrodite Urania" (Heavenly Aphrodite).
The second, and older, version of her birth comes from Homer. In this account, she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione. Dione is a Titaness, and in some traditions, she is an early wife of Zeus. This version portrays Aphrodite as a more traditional Olympian deity, born from the union of two powerful gods.
Myths and Relationships
Aphrodite's story is filled with tales of love, jealousy, and betrayal. Despite being married to the blacksmith god Hephaestus, she had many affairs, most famously with the war god Ares. The story of their affair is a classic in Greek mythology. Hephaestus, upon discovering their infidelity, crafted an unbreakable, invisible net to trap them in bed. He then called the other gods to witness their shame. The gods found the situation hilarious rather than scandalous, and the pair was eventually freed.
She also had a famous affair with the mortal man Adonis. Adonis was a beautiful young hunter. Aphrodite fell deeply in love with him, but he was eventually killed by a wild boar. Heartbroken, Aphrodite turned the flower anemone into a symbol of her grief, as it was said to have grown from his blood.
Aphrodite's influence extended beyond romantic love. She played a significant role in the Trojan War. She promised Paris, the Trojan prince, the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta, in exchange for his judgment that she was the most beautiful goddess. This decision led to Helen's abduction and the start of the war between the Greeks and Trojans.
Her Symbolism
Aphrodite is often depicted with symbols of love and beauty. These include the dove, the swan, and the sparrow. The rose and the myrtle tree are also sacred to her. Her divine weapon is a magical girdle or belt that can make anyone fall in love with its wearer.
She represents a complex mix of divine love, physical beauty, and untamed passion. Her myths serve as reminders of the powerful and often chaotic nature of love and desire.
The challenge accounting is as follows:
Goal: 100k
Collected so far: 120 zaps
Remaining balance: 99,880 zaps
Days remaining to complete the challenge: 24

We remain confident and full of faith. I am grateful to all who contributed, and may God reward you in double!