ESTATE & ATTRIBUTES OF APHRODITE : Greek mythology

APHRODITE ESTATE

OTHER APHRODITE PAGES

Aphrodite Intro, Index & Gallery
Aphrodite Goddess of
Aphrodite Myths 1, Part 2, Part 3
Aphrodite Wrath 1, Part 2
Aphrodite Favour
Aphrodite Family
Aphrodite Loves 1
Aphrodite Estate & Attributes
Aphrodite Attendants
Aphrodite Cult 1, Part 2, Titles
Aphrodite Summary

APHRODITE was the great Olympian goddess of pleasure, joy, beauty, love and procreation.

This page describes her attributes, estate, and sacred plants and animals.

Aphrodite's attributes in classical art include Eros (the winged godling of love), a mirror, apple, and myrtle wreath or sprigs, and in the story of her birth the cockle shell.

Her most important sacred plants and animals were the rose, myrtle, and apple, dove, sparrow and fish.

(1) ESTATE & ATTRIBUTES

DOVE-DRAWN CHARIOT OF APHRODITE Aphrodite's jewel-encrusted, golden chariot was drawn through the sky by a team of doves.

TRITON-DRAWN CHARIOT OF APHRODITE Aphrodite was a goddess of the sea as well as the heavens, and according to one author, she possessed a sea-going chariot drawn by fish-tailed Tritones.

CLOTHING & JEWELLERY OF APHRODITE Aphrodite clothed herself in rich, brightly-coloured clothing and adorned herself with fabulous jewellery.

MAGICAL GIRDLE OF APHRODITE The magical girdle (or cestus) of Aphrodite was woven with the irrestistable powers of love and desire.

PALACE OF APHRODITE Aphrodite's palace stood either upon Mt Olympos itself or in the heaven's high above the famous mountain.

(2) SACRED PLANTS AND ANIMALS

DOVE: SACRED BIRD The affectionate white or turtle-dove was the bird of love, was a bird sacred to the goddess Aphrodite. Doves were said to draw her heavenly chariot, and the Syrian Aphrodite Ashtarte was said to have been hatched from an egg nursed by doves.

GOOSE: SACRED BIRD The white goose was sacred to Aphrodite. She was often depicted riding one side-saddle.

SPARROW: SACRED BIRD The sparrow was a bird sacred to the goddess Aphrodite.

SWAN: SACRED BIRD Usually associated with Apollon, in art, Aphrodite also occasionally appears riding on the back of a swan (in place of her usual goose).

FISH: SACRED ANIMAL The fish was said to be sacred to Aphrodite, deriving from the Syrian myth of the birth of Ashtarte, in which the goddess was borne from an egg carried to the banks of the River Euphrates by fish.

SHELLFISH: SACRED ANIMAL Shellfish were regarded as sacred to the goddess Aphrodite and were so regarded as aphrodisiacs - from the scallop or cockle, to the mussel and nerites shell. The pearl was therefore also her stone.

COCKLE: SACRED ANIMAL The cockle-shell was sacred to Aphrodite, who was often depicted emerging from one in her birth scene. The half opened shell represented a woman's genitalia.

HARE: SACRED ANIMAL The hare was regarded as an animal sacred to Aphrodite and Eros because of its high libido. Live hares were often presented as a gift of love.

SWINE: SACRED / PROHIBITED ANIMAL The pig was an animal believed to be offensive to the goddess Aphrodite, for it was a wild swine which gored to death her beloved Adonis. Pig-sacrifice was therefore prohibited in her cult, except in Kypros and Argos where pigs were offered to assuage her grief for Adonis.

APPLE: SACRED TREE & FRUIT The apple and apple-tree were sacred to the goddess Aphrodite. She was awarded the prize of the golden apple from Paris of Troy and also bestowed golden apples upon Hippomenes in his contest to win Atalanta.

POMEGRANATE: SACRED FRUIT The pomegranate was sacred to Aphrodite who was said to have first planted it on the island of Kypros. The fruit symbolised female fertility and the marital loss of virginity with the consumation of marriage (from both its red stains and rich seeds).

LETTUCE: SACRED PLANT The lettuce was said to have been sacred to Aphrodite, for she lay the dead body of Adonis in a bed of these plants. It was believed to cause impotence in men.

MYRTLE & MYRRH: SACRED PLANTS The myrtle-tree (Greek myrrhina) and myrrh-bush (Greek smyrna) were sacred to Aphrodite, because it was from one these plants that her beloved Adonis was born (the metamorphosed form of his mother Myrrha or Smyrna).

ANEMONE: SACRED FLOWER The red r anemone was a flower sacred to Aphrodite. It was said to have sprung from the blood of her dying lover Adonis.

ROSE: SACRED FLOWER The red rose was sacred to Aphrodite. It was said to have blushed or been stained red when Aphrodite cut her feet on its thorns rushing to the aide of her dying lover Adonis.

PEARL: SACRED GEM The sea-born pearl was the regarded as the stone of love, and so sacred to the goddess Aphrodite.

DOVE-DRAWN CHARIOT OF APHRODITE

"[Aphrodite] To drive thy rapid two-yoked car of gold." - Orphic Hymn 55 to Aphrodite

"Cytherea [Aphrodite] was riding in her dainty chariot, winged by her swans, across the middle air making for Cyprus, when she heard afar Adonis’ dying groans, and thither turned her snowy birds." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.708

"[Aphrodite] carried by her doves across the sky, reached the Laurentian coast." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 14.597

"She [Aphrodite] raised her starry limbs, and passing the proud threshold of her chamber called to the reign her Amyklaian doves. Amor [Eros, love] harnesses them, and seated on the jewelled car bears his mother rejoicing through the clouds." - Statius, Silvae 1.2.51

"Venus [Aphrodite] ... ordered her carriage to be prepared; Vulcanus [Hephaistos] had lovingly applied the finishing touches to it with elaborate workmanship, and had given it to her as a wedding-present before her initiation into marriage. The thinning motion of his file had made the metal gleam; the coach’s value was measured by the gold it had lost. Four white doves emerged from the large herd stabled close to their mistress’s chamber. As they strutted gaily forward, turning their dappled necks from side to side. They submitted to the jewelled yoke. They took their mistress aboard and delightedly mounted upwards. Sparrows sported with the combined din of their chatter as they escorted the carriage of the goddess, and the other birds, habitually sweet songsters, announced the goddess’s approach with the pleasurable sound of their honeyed tunes. The clouds parted, and Caelus (Heaven) [Ouranos] admitted his daughter; the topmost region delightedly welcomed the goddess, and the tuneful retinue of mighty Venus had no fear of encounter with eagles or of plundering hawks." - Apuleius, The Golden Ass 6.6

In ancient Greek vase-painting the chariot of Aphrodite was sometimes depicted drawn by a pair of Erotes (winged Love-Gods).

TRITON-DRAWN COCKLE-SHELL OF APHRODITE

"Then she [Venus-Aphrodite] made for the nearest shore lapped by the waves. With rosy feet she mounted the surface of the rippling waters, and lo and behold, the bright surface of the sea-depths was becalmed. At her first intimation, her retinue in the deep performed her wishes [the various sea-gods and goddesses join her company] ... Bands of Tritoni sported here and there on the waters, one softly blowing on his echoing shell, another fending off with silk parasol the heat of the hostile sun, a third holding a mirror before his mistress’s face, while others, yoked in pairs to her chariot, swam below. This was the host of Venus’ companions as she made for the Oceanus." - Apuleius, The Golden Ass 4.31

For MORE information on these Tritons see THE IKHTHYOKENTAUROI

F10.1 APHRODITE,
COCKLE SHELL

Z10.5 APHRODITE,
COCKLE SHELL

Z10.1 APHRODITE,
COCKLE SHELL

K10.7 APHRODITE,
COCKLE SHELL

CLOTHING, PERFUME & JEWELLERY OF APHRODITE

"About her [Aphrodite's] beloved son [Aineias wounded during the Trojan War] came streaming her white arms, and with her white robe thrown in a fold in front she shielded him, this keeping off the throne weapons lest some fast-mounted Danaan strike the bronze spear through his chest ... The immortal robe that the very Kharites had woven for her [Aphrodite]." - Homer, Iliad 5.337

"[Athene] cleansed the lovely features with the fragrant balm that Kytherea [Aphrodite] puts on when she enters the bewitching circle of dancing Kharites, and with this she made her skin more white than ivory newly sawn." - Homer, Odyssey 18.193

"[Aphrodite at her birth was carried by the winds to Kypros] and there the gold-filleted Horai (Seasons) welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc and precious gold, and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold-filleted Horai wear themselves." - Homeric Hymns 6 to Aphrodite

"She [Aphrodite] went to Kypros, to Paphos, where her precinct is and fragrant altar, and passed into her sweet-smelling temple. There she went in and put to the glittering doors, and there the Kharites (Graces) bathed her with heavenly oil such as blooms upon the bodies of the eternal gods - oil divinely sweet, which she had by her, filled with fragrance. And laughter-loving Aphrodite put on all her rich clothes ... decked herself with gold ... For she was clad in a robe out-shining the brightness of fire, a splendid robe of gold, enriched with all manner of needlework, which shimmered like the moon over her tender breasts, a marvel to see. Also she wore twisted brooches and shining earrings in the form of flowers; and round her soft throat were lovely necklaces." - Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite

"She [Aphrodite] clothed herself with garments which the Kharites (Graces) and Horai (Hours) had made for her and dyed in flowers of spring - such flowers as the Horai wear - in crocus and hyacinth and flourishing violet and the rose's lovely bloom, so sweet and delicious, and heavenly buds, the flowers of the narcissus and lily. In such perfumed garments is Aphrodite clothed at all seasons." - Homerica, The Cypria Frag 6 (from Athenaeus 15.682)

For the MYTH of Aphrodite's sacred beauty cream see PSYKHE

MAGIC GIRDLE OF APHRODITE

The magical girdle of Aphrodite had the power to inspire the passion of desire. Hera, in her role as the goddess of marriage, occassionally borrowed it from Aphrodite to reunite quarrelling spouses in love and to inspire the bridal contests of suitors.

"Lady ox-eyed Hera was divided in purpose as to how she could beguile the brain in Zeus ... And to her mind this thing appeared to be the best counsel, to array herself in loveliness, and go down to Ida, and perhaps he might be taken with desire to lie in love with her next her skin … [She] called aside Aphrodite to come away from the rest of the gods, and spoke a word to her: ... ‘Give me loveliness and desirability, graces with which you overwhelm mortal men, and all the immortals. Since I go now to the ends of the generous earth, on a visit to Okeanos, whence the gods have risen, and Tethys our mother who brought me up kindly in their own house … I shall go to visit these, and resolve their division of discord, since now for a long time they have stayed apart from each other and from the bed of love, since rancour has entered their feelings. Could I win over with persuasion the dear heart within them and bring them back to their bed to be merged in love with each other I shall be forever called honoured by them, and beloved.’
Then in turn Aphrodite Philomeides (the laughing) answered her: ‘I cannot, and I must not deny this thing that you ask for, you, who lies in the arms of Zeus, since he is our greatest.’
She spoke, and from her breasts unbound the elaborate, pattern-pierced zone (himas), and on it are figured all beguilement (philotes), and loveliness is figured upon it, and passion of sex (himeros) is there, and the whispered endearment (oaristos) that steals the heart away even from the thoughtful. She put this in Hera’s hands, and called her by name and spoke to her: ‘Take this zone, and hide it away in the fold of your bosom. It is elaborate, all things are figured therein. And I think whatever is your heart’s desire shall not go unaccomplished." - Homer, Iliad 14.159 & 187

"The author [Hephaestion] speaks of the embroidered belt [the cestus] which Hera received from Aphrodite and gave to Helene [at the time of the contest of the suitors?]: it was stolen by Helene's servant, Astyanassa and recovered from her by Aphrodite." - Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Bk4 (as summarized in Photius, Myriobiblon 190)

Philostratus the Younger, Imagines 8 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) :
"[From a description of a painting depicting Aphrodite :] The painting shows the 'laughter-loving' disposition caused by the magic of her girdle."

"Venus [Aphrodite] ... wearing that belt of hers around her waist." - Apuleius, The Golden Ass 2.8

"For spear I [Aphrodite] have, as it were, a swift lance, the honeyed girdle of the Erotes (Loves)! I have my girdle, I ply my goad, I raise my bow: even that girdle, whence women catch the sting of my desire, and travail often-times, but not unto death." - Colluthus, Rape of Helen 15

"Kypris [Aphrodite in the contest of the goddesses for the golden apple] lifted up her deep-bosomed robe and bared her breast to the air and had no shame. And lifting with her hands the honeyed girdle of the Erotes (Loves) she bared all her bosom and heeded not her breasts. And smilingly she spake to the herdsman [Paris]." - Colluthus, Rape of Helen 15

"Coming up with the goddess [Aphrodite at the time of her birth from the sea-foam] there was that embroidered strap which ran round her loins like a belt, set about the queen’s body in a girdle of itself." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 41.20

"She [Hera] bound the unaccustomed cestus [that Aphrodite had loaned her] about and about her flanks ... She came near to Zeus. And when Zeus Highest and Mightiest saw her, the goading cestus whipt him to hotter love. As Zeus looked upon her his eyes were enslaved." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32.10

"Obey the cestus girdle born with Paphia [Aphrodite]!" - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 42.378

"Tricky-minded Aphrodite girt her body in the heart-bewitching cestus-belt, and clothing herself in the love-robe of Peitho (Persuasion)." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 3.400

"Soon Harmonia yoked by the cestus-girdle [of Aphrodite] that guides wedded desire, carried in her womb the seed of many children whom she brought forth soon one by one." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 5.88

"When I hear that your mother is Kypris, my only wonder is that her cestus has left you uncharmed." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 42.98

"Flogged by the blows of the cestus [that is, by desire]." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 42.98

"[Aphrodite to the Kharis Pasithea:] ‘Has Eros perhaps flicked you also with the cestus, like Eos (the Dawn) once before?" - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 33.4

"Eros ... caught a lioness alive with the allbewitching cestus." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 48.264

"She [Aphrodite] has love hidden (keuthomenon) within herself, which she sends to all; for through her charmed girdle she has the power." - Suidas "Kythereia"

PALACE OF APHRODITE

"The palace of Aphrodite [on Mt Olympos], which her lame consort Hephaistos had built for her when he took he as his bride from the hands of Zeus. They [Hera and Athene] entered the courtyard and paused below the veranda of the room where the goddess slept with her lord and master." - Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3.36

"Seeks she [Hera] Venus’ [Aphrodite’s] bower and the garlands ever fresh that deck her abode. At the sight of her the goddess straightway springs from her high-piled couch, and all the troop of winged Amores [Erotes the Loves]." - Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 6.455

"Once on a time, where the milky region is set in a tranquil heaven, lay kindly Venus [Aphrodite] in her bower, whence night had but lately fled, faint in the rough embrace of her Getic lord [Ares]. About the posts and pillows of her couch swarm a troop of tender Amores [Erotes the Loves] .... Weary she lies upon her cushions." - Statius, Silvae 1.2.51

SACRED PLANTS & FLOWERS

I) ROSE (Greek "rhodon")

"The soft rose. It is the breath of the gods and the joy of mortals, the glory of the Kharites in spring-time, the delight of the Erotes with their rich garlands and of Aphrodite; it is a subject for poetry and the graceful plant of the Mousai." - Greek Lyric II The Anacreontea, Frag 35

"Let us mix the Erotes ‘ rose with Dionysos: let us fasten on our brows the rose with its lovely petals and drink, laughing gently. Rose, finest of flowers, rose, darling of spring, rose, delight of the gods also, rose with which Kythere’s [Aphrodite's] son [Eros] garlands his lovely curls when he dances with the Kharites." - Greek Lyric II The Anacreontea, Frag 44

"Kypria [Aphrodite] and soft-lidded Peitho nursed you among rose-blossoms." - Greek Lyric Ibycus, Frag 288

"The rose and the myrtle are sacred to Aphrodite and connected with the story of Adonis." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 6.24.7

"I saw at some distance a valley shaded by a leafy wood. Glinting among diverse smaller plants and the most luxuriant shrubbery were some bright roses of ruddy hue ... that grove seemed to me to be the abode of Venus [Aphrodite] and the Gratiae [Kharites]; in its shady recesses that delightful blossom shone out with its brightness of royal crimson." - Apuleius, The Golden Ass 4.2

"That herb of passion [the myrtle] which Kythereia [Aphrodite] loves as much as the rose, as much as the anemone." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32.10

"Hanging in the bridal chamber golden fruit [apples] ... in place of the wedding-roses." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 13.333

"Zeuxis the painter drew in the temple of Aphrodite [at Athens] a most youthful Eros, encircled with roses." - Suidas "Anthemon"

II) ANEMONE (Greek "anenome")

"[Aphrodite cries at the death of her love Adonis:] 'Your blood shall change into a flower …and ere an hour had passed a blood-red flower arose, like the rich bloom of pomegranates ... yet is its beauty brief, so lightly cling it petals, fall so soon, when the winds [Greek ‘anemoi’] blow that give the flower [anemone] its name." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 10.705

"That herb of passion [the myrtle] which Kythereia [Aphrodite] loves as much as the rose, as much as the anemone, which she wears when she is about to mingle her love with Myrrha’s son [Adonis]." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32.10

For the MYTH of Aphrodite & the death of Adonis see Aphrodite Loves: Adonis

III) MYRTLE & MYRRH (Greek "myrrhina" and "smyrna")

Both plants were connected with the birth of Adonis (in two alternate versions of the story).

"Once upon a time, the gods selected the trees which they wished to adopt as their own. Jove [Zeus] chose the oak tree, while Venus [Aphrodite] preferred the myrtle tree, Phoebus [Apollon] the laurel." - Aesop, Fables 205 (from Phaedrus 3.17)

"The rose and the myrtle are sacred to Aphrodite and connected with the story of Adonis." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 6.24.7

"Here [in Aphrodite's temple at Troizenos] there still grew the myrtle, with its leaves ... pierced with holes." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 2.32.3

"[There is] an image of Aphrodite in Temnos [in Elis] made of a living myrtle-tree." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 5.13.7

"[Caesar praised as a descendant of Aeneas] wreathing your brows with your mother’s [Aphrodite's] myrtle." - Virgil, Georgics 1.27

"Paphian myrtles." - Virgil, Georgics 2.64

"About her hair she twined that herb of passion [the myrtle] which Kythereia [Aphrodite] loves as much as the rose, as much as the anemone." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32.10

For the MYTH of Aphrodite & myrtle or myrrh see
(1) Aphrodite Loves: Adonis (boy born of the tree)
(2) Aphrodite Wrath: Myrrha / Smyrna (transformed into the tree by Aphrodite)

IV) APPLE (Greek "melon")

"[The statue of Aphrodite in Sikyon is] carrying in one hand a poppy and in the other an apple." - Pausanias, Guide to Greece 2.10.4

"[Description of an ancient Greek painting:] The Erotes bring [to Aphrodite] first-fruits of the apples, and gathering around they pray to her that their apple-orchard may prosper." - Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1.6

"Kypris [Aphrodite] together with the Erotes (Loves) decked out a fine bed for the wedding, hanging in the bridal chamber golden fruit [apples] from the Nymphai’s garden, a worthy lovegift for the bride; rich clusters of their leaves Harmonia and Kadmos twined through their hair, amid the abundance of their bridechamber, in place of the wedding-roses. Still more dainty the bride appeared wearing these golden gifts, the boon of golden Aphrodite." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 13.333

"[The statue of Nemesis at Rhamnousos was] modelled on the appearance of Aphrodite; that is why she held a sprig from an apple-tree." - Suidas "Rhamnousia Nemesis"

For MYTHS of Aphrodite and the apple see:
(1) Aphrodite Favour: Hippomenes (given golden apples by the goddess)
(2) THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS (goddess awarded prize of a golden apple)

V) LETTUCE (Greek "thridax")

"Nikandros of Kolophon [C2nd BC grammarian], in the second book of his Dialect Lexicon, explains the word ‘brenthis’ as the Cyprian term for lettuce; in this Adonis sought refuge from the wild boar which killed him … Kallimakhos [C3rd BC grammarian], too, says that Aphrodite hid Adonis in a lettuce-bed, since the poets mean by this allegory that constant eating of lettuce produces impotence. So also Euboulos [C4th BC politician?], in the Defectives, says: ‘Don’t put lettuce on the table before me, wife, or you will have only yourself to blame. For in that plant, the story goes, Kypris [Aphrodite], once laid out Adonis when he died; therefore it is dead men’s food.’ And Kratinos [C6th BC comic poet] says that Aphrodite, when she fell in love with Phaon, hid him away in ‘fair lettuce-beds." - Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 2.69b-d

For the MYTH of Aphrodite & the death of Adonis see Aphrodite Loves: Adonis

VI) POMEGRANATE (Greek "rhoa")

The pomegranate was sacred to Aphrodite in Kypros. The fruit symbolised the consumation of marriage and the loss of female virginity (for example, in the story of Persephone). It was also believed to work as a natural abortifaction agent. The fruit was also sacred to Hera as the goddess of marriage.

“Eriphos in the Meliboia … : A: And here are the pomegranates. B: How nice they are! A: Ay, for they say this was the one and only tree that Aphrodite planted in Kypros. B: Worshipful Berbeia!" - Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 3.84c

For MORE information and pictures of Sacred Plants see FLORA OF MYTH

SACRED BIRDS & ANIMALS

I) TURTLE-DOVE & SPARROW (Greek "trugon" and "struthous")

"White Turtle-doves are often to be seen. These, they say, are sacred to Aphrodite and Demeter." - Aelian, On Animals 10.33

"Into the Euphrates River an egg of wonderful size is said to have fallen, which the fish rolled to the bank. Doves sat on it, and when it was heated, it hatched out Venus, who was later called the Syrian goddess. Since she excelled the rest in justice and uprightness, by a favour granted by Jove [Zeus], the fish were put among the number of the stars, and because of this the Syrians do not eat fish or doves, considering them as gods." - Hyginus, Fabulae 197

"[Aphrodite] carried by her doves across the sky." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 14.597

"Birds your [Ares] consort [Aphrodite] loves ... snow-white doves." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.673

"Four white doves ... submitted to the jewelled yoke [of the chariot of Aphrodite]. They took their mistress aboard and delightedly mounted upwards. Sparrows sported with the combined din of their chatter as they escorted the carriage of the goddess, and the other birds, habitually sweet songsters, announced the goddess’s approach with the pleasurable sound of their honeyed tunes." - Apuleius, The Golden Ass 6.6

"[Aphrodite to Eros:] Honour my bridesmaid bird of love [the dove] and yours, the herald of lifelong wedding and happy hearts!" - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 33.4

See also Dove-Drawn Chariot of Aphrodite (this page)

II) SWALLOW

"The Swallow is held sacred to the Theoi Khelidoi (Household Gods) and to Aphrodite, for she also is one of them." - Aelian, On Animals 10.34

III) FISH (Greek "ikhthyes")

"Fishes. Diognetus Erythraeus says that once Venus [Aphrodite] and her son Cupid [Eros] came in Syria to the river Euphrates. There Typhon, of whom we have already spoken, suddenly appeared. Venus [Aphrodite] and her son threw themselves into the river and there changed their forms to fishes, and by so doing this escaped danger. So afterwards the Syrians, who are adjacent to these regions, stopped eating fish, fearing to catch them lest with like reason they seem either to oppose the protection of the gods, or to entrap the gods themselves." - Hyginus, Astronomica 2.30

"Piscis, heaven’s horses. They say that you and your brother (for your stars gleam together) ferried two gods on your backs. Once Dione [Aphrodite], in flight from terrible Typhon (when Jupiter [Zeus] armed in heaven’s defence), reached the Euphrates with tiny Cupidos [Eros] in tow and sat by the hem of Palestine’s stream ... Twin fish went underneath them; for which, you see, the present stars are named. Hence timid Syrians think it wrong to serve up this species; they defile no mouths with fish." - Ovid, Fasti 2.458

"Typhoeus, issuing from earth’s lowest depths, struck terror in those heavenly hearts, and they all turned their backs and fled ... and the gods concealed themselves in spurious shapes ... Venus [Aphrodite] became a fish." - Ovid, Metamorphoses 5.319

For MORE information on the fishes of Aphrodite see THE IKHTHYES

IV) SHELLFISH

Shellfish were regarded as sacred to Aphrodite from the cockle-shell (in which she is depicted floating at her birth) to the mussel, clam and . Similarly the pearl was her sacred stone.

"Antigonos of Karystos, in his treatise on Diktion, says that this shell-fish [the ear-mussles] is called ‘Aphrodite’s ear’ by the Aiolians." - Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 3.88a

"The Indian stone of love [the pearl], offspring itself of the waters and akin to Aphrogeneia (the Foamborn)." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32.10

For MYTH of Aphrodite & shellfish see
(1) The Birth of Aphrodite (sails ashore in a scallop-shell)
(2) Aphrodite Loves: Nerites (boy transformed into a shellfish)

V) HARE (Greek "lagos")

"[Description of an ancient Greek painting:] Erotes are hunting down [a hare] ... but there is no shooting of arrows at the hare, since they are trying to catch it alive as an offering most pleasing to Aphrodite. For you know, I imagine, what is said of the hare, that it possesses the gift of Aphrodite [fertility] to an unusual degree. At any rate it is said of the female that while she suckles the young she has borne, she bears another litter to share the same milk; forthwith she conceives again, nor is there any time at all when she is not carrying young. As for the male, he not only begets offspring in the way natural to males, but also himself bears young, contrary to nature. And perverted lovers have found in the hare a certain power to produce love, attempting to secure the objects of their affection by a compelling magic art." - Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1.6

Aphrodite's son Eros was often depicted carrying a hare, as a symbol of unquenchable desire.

VI) SWINE (Greek "hus")

Aphrodite had a curious relationship with the pig. The goddess supposedly hated the creature because her lover Adonis had been gorged to death by a wild boar. Therefore arose the proverb 'he sacrificed a pig to Aphrodite' used to refer to someone who gave an innappropriate or unwanted gift.
However, in Argos and Kypros at least, pigs were sacrificed to the goddess during the Hysteria (of the pigs) festival. The sacrifice was probably to assuage her grief for the loss of Adonis, who was slain by a wild pig.

"A sow and a dog were viciously arguing with one another. The sow, for her part, swore by Aphrodite that she would tear the dog to pieces with her teeth. The dog replied ironically, 'Yes indeed, you do well to swear by Aphrodite! It's clear just how much she loves you, since she absolutely forbids anyone who has tasted your filthy flesh to enter her temple.' The sow retorted, 'This is even more evidence of the goddess's love for me, since she turns away anyone who has slain or mistreated me in any way. As for you, you just smell bad, dead or alive!" - Aesop, Fables 197 (from Chambry 329)

"He sacrificed a pig to Aphrodite [proverb meaning someone who gave an inappropriate or unwanted gift]." - Erasmus, Adages 3.1.30

"Antiphanes in The Woman of Korinthos: ‘A: And then a pig’s foot to Aphrodite? Ridiculous! B: But you don’t know. In Kypros, my master, the goddess takes such delight in swine that she keeps the beast from feeding on dung, but has forced that job upon the oxen.’ As a matter of fact Kallimakhos (or Zenodotos), in Historical Notes, testifies that the pig is sacrificed to Aphrodite, in these words: ‘The people of Argos sacrifice swine to Aphrodite and the festival is called Hysteria (Feast of Swine)." - Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 3.95f-96a

For the MYTH of the death of Adonis see Aphrodite Loves: Adonis

SACRED GEMSTONES

I) PEARL

"The Indian stone of love [the pearl], offspring itself of the waters and akin to Aphrogeneia (the Foamborn)." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32.10