Aphrodite was the goddess of extreme beauty．Her birthwas a mysterious one．On one of those days when the
Olympians had begun to enjoy power in the universe，the floating bubbles of the sea glowed with holy brightness．Out of the wave rose a fair and lovely maiden，shining forth warmth and charm．She was then taken by the ocean fairy maiden to Cyprus which became her sacred island．Her beauty was beyond description，and she was rightly called the Beautiful．Over her deathles shead was a golden crown，her eyes were deep and soft，and herbrows warm．Her long halr flowed over her dellcate neck and white bosom ．Her slender fingers and rosy-white feet all added to her attractive grace and elegance ．Her slim lily form of a figure caused both the enthusiastic admiration of the gods and the burning jealousy of the goddess when she first took her place on Olympus．
She was appointed goddess of Love and Marriage．Sitting inher carriage drawn by sparrows，doves or swans，she travelledfar and wide to inspire love in the hearts of all nature and move man and beast and animal and plant to reproduction． with the help of her little son，Eros，the god of love，she made many a tale of happiness and sadness in the life of gods and men．Being less serious，she introduced the idea of free love into marriedlife． She was never faithful to her husband Hephaestus． Herhusband on one occasion caught her in a net as she was lying with Mars． Then he held them both up to fun in front of the gods．She was kind and responsible and was ever ready to helpyoung lovers in trouble．She loved Adonis， breathed life into thestatue of Galatea and lent a helping hand to young Hippomennes in his race．
42 阿芙罗狄蒂（维纳斯）
阿芙罗狄蒂是“至美”女神，她的身世很神奇。在那段日子里，奥林波斯山神们已开始乐于追求宇宙间的权力。一天，海上漂动的浮泡散发出万道圣洁的金光。随着波浪的起伏，一位美丽可爱的少女升出海面，放射出温暖与魁力。她被海神带到了塞浦路斯，后来，塞浦路斯成了她的圣岛。她的美丽无法形容，于是，她被理所当然地称为“美人”。在她不朽的头颅上有个金皇冠，她的双目深沉柔和，双眉温暖祥和。她那瀑布般的长发撒在她优美的颈项以及白皙的胸脯上。此外，她纤巧的手指，玫瑰般白嫩的双足更为她的美增添了迷人的高贵和典雅。当她第一次出现在奥林波斯山上时，她纤细匀称的身段不仅赢得了众神狂热的崇拜，还招致了众女神发疯般的妒嫉。
她被选为爱和婚姻女神。为了激起宇宙间万物心中的爱，为了使人、兽以及动植物能够繁衍，她乘着由麻雀、鸽子或是天鹅驾驭的车子到处游逛。在她的小儿子爱神厄洛斯的帮助下，她在众神和人世间挑起了许多悲与欢的动人故事。由于一时疏忽，她给婚后生活注入了自由恋爱的观念。她对丈夫赫菲斯托斯一向不忠。有一次，当她与战神玛尔斯躺在一起时，她的丈夫用网捉住了她。随后，他恶作剧地把他们俩一同 在了众神面前。她心肠好又有责任心。她随时准备着去帮助那些遇到麻烦的情侣们。她爱阿多尼斯，又赋予石像盖拉蒂以生命。在竞赛中，她还帮了年轻的希波梅弥斯一把。
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