As a mother, and arguably as a daughter, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is a powerful and passionate woman. She is portrayed in Greek mythology as a mysterious and beautiful seductress, yet she is also depicted as devious and cunning. There are some Greek myths that suggest that Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione, but the favorable and most common myth of Aphrodite's commencement of life is from the sea. She is born from the surrounding foam from the severed genitals of Uranus. In Hesiod's description of the birth of Aphrodite, she "emerged from the sea as a modest and beautiful goddess" (Theogony 193).
             Aphrodite is such an influential goddess, according to Hesiod, that even the great god Zeus uses her characteristics in the production of Pandora "Aphrodite the golden he told to crown her head (Pandora) with desire/but with the heartbreak as well, and all the aching sorrow of love" (Works and Days 64-65). Aphrodite is married to the Greek god Hephaestus, but their marriage is a complete mockery of the sacred union to the gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. Aphrodite is known for her frequent rendezvous with Ares. The kind where many of the other gods and goddesses are well aware of too. As Homer says, Ares would wait till Hephaestus would leave
             town, and then go into his house where Aphrodite would be waiting in bed for him. They are both caught together by Hephaestus, while Poseidon pays Ares debt to Hephaestus (Odyssey 8.266-366).
             Aphrodite does not only cheat on Hephaestus with immortal gods but she also has passionate relationships with mortal men as well. The prince Anchises is fooled by Aphrodite's beauty and deceitfulness when Zeus casts a spell on Aphrodite to lust over a mortal man. At first, Anchises is love-struck and does not care who or what Aphrodite is (thus it is sinful for a mortal man to have any kind of sexual (relationship with a goddess). After Aphrodite professes her deep interest ...