When I was twenty years old, I saw Sandro Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” in a neighbor’s house for the first time. The painting’s beauty and the mythology behind it fascinated me. The magical scene depicted Venus (Aphrodite) emerging from a seashell, born of sea foam, as Zephyrus, the God of the Winds, blows her towards the shore while holding Aura in the beautiful breeze. Hora, one of the personifications of Spring, stands off to the side, waiting to cloak Venus with a flower-decorated cloth.  From that moment, I knew I had to visit the  Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, to see Botticelli’s masterpiece. The painting awakened my inner goddess, and I felt destined to go to Italy.

Love Deities

Love deities appear in myths worldwide because it is human nature to seek love. Love is beauty, and beauty is love.

Aphrodite’s Influence…

I am passionate about mythology and stories that explore human nature through the divine. When I first discovered the folklore of Aphrodite, I was enchanted. I felt a deep connection to the myth, as if I knew Venus (Aphrodite) in a past life or was her reincarnation. Many of us ‘Love Goddesses’ can relate to her independence and wildness. We might even consider ourselves Aphrodite’s descendants. We are passionate, seek divine love, embrace our inner and outer beauty, and look for love and beauty in everything around us. Aphrodite was also a seductress and coy; we embrace those aspects too. We embody every facet of Aphrodite, both dark and light.

Who is Goddess Aphrodite (Venus)?

In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the Goddess of Love and Beauty and the mother of Eros (Cupid). Her name originates from the Greek word “aphros,” meaning sea foam. Many love goddesses in different cultures bear characteristics similar to Aphrodite, such as Ashoreth of the Phoenicians, the Goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamian civilization, and Inanna of the Sumerians.

To learn more in-depth about Aphrodite, click here Aphrodite.

A Dream Come True

In 2016, I finally made it to Florence, Italy, on a trip with my mom, which was the trip of a lifetime. I walked into the Uffizi Gallery and saw the “Birth of Venus.” I had met a woman on the plane ride to Italy who also wanted to see the painting. That afternoon, while my mom went out to lunch with others from our tour, I set off to my dream gallery. It was a few blocks away from our hotel. I met the woman outside the gallery, and my heart was pounding with excitement. I could not wait to see the painting. It was a dream come true.

The room was crowded with many people trying to view the painting. I wished everyone would disappear so I could be alone with my beloved Venus, but I knew we were all there for the same reason. Finally, after waiting for a break from the crowd, I found an empty spot in front of the painting. There we were, Aphrodite and I. My eyes traced every delicate stroke of the paint that created her, and I looked at every detail in amazement. I absorbed the craftsmanship of Botticelli and understood his intention to convey the true meaning of love and beauty. I silently thanked Botticelli for sharing the spirit of the divine with the world, and then I prayed to Venus, telling her all my love goddess wishes. I inhaled the moment and felt reborn.

I almost forgot the woman I came with until she called me out of my trance. I turned around, and she snapped a picture of me in front of the “Birth of Venus.” It was a dream come true.