The Ancient Greek period might have been over for a thousand years, but its influence in our modern society still holds true. This is thanks in part to Greek mythology and the many stories of the great gods and goddesses that have been said to exist. The Greek pantheon hosts great names such as Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hermes, Aries, Athena, Hera, and many more. But one that is often overlooked and yet still rooted in many stories is the goddess Aphrodite!
Aphrodite has been long considered to be the epitome of female beauty and it is no doubt that women around the world would want to channel their inner divinity with the goddess through a tattoo! So let’s explore all things Aphrodite and see the many wonderful designs that you can come up with that can pay homage to the goddess and empower your womanhood!
Key Takeaways
- Learn of the origins of Aphrodite in mythology and the inspirations from her stories that you can incorporate in your tattoo design.
- Aphrodite tattoos can be a symbol of love, passion, desire, beauty, femininity, woman’s empowerment, and even mourning.
- There are many ideas that you can come up with Aphrodite and relate back to her stories to help what you want to symbolize.
Aphrodite the Goddess of Love and Desire: Stories and Origin
Aphrodite (known as Venus in Roman mythology) is the goddess of many things such as love, lust, passion, desire, fertility, procreation, and sexual love. But it was her perfect body and symmetrical face that became the reason men and women in Ancient Greece worshipped her.
Confusion in the origin stories of Aphrodite
Much of Greek mythology comes from multiple sources and the stories of Aphrodite are no stranger to this either. Even with the story of her origin is questioned as such, because in Homer’s Iliad she is said to be the daughter of Zeus and one of his many lovers Dione. The most popular of her origin story has to be Cronus throwing his father’s (Uranus) severed genitals into the sea where the foams that formed from it created Aphrodite. The exact location is a cause for debate since some will say that it is near Cyprus while others say it is near the coast of Cythera. Either way, a pretty gruesome way to be born if you ask me!
War for Aphrodite and Zeus’s Intervention
Aphrodite is considered to be one of the 12 gods and goddesses that led Olympus with Zeus at the helm. However, the sheer beauty of Aphrodite meant that mortals and gods alike were after her hand in marriage. A war was almost brewing in Olympus, the home of the Greek gods, but it was Zeus who intervened and married her off to Hephaestus the blacksmith god who was considered to be deformed and ugly.
Aphrodite’s infidelity and many lovers
However, Aphrodite was unhappy with being married to Hephaestus since he was who she wanted. So instead, Aphrodite had many affairs with both men and gods like Aries, Adonis, Anchises, and many more. This sprawled the many stories related to Aphrodite that you can use as inspiration for your tattoos!
Aphrodite Tattoo Meaning and Symbolism
Since Aphrodite was such a promiscuous goddess, you might think that getting a tattoo of her would have a negative connotation. But that is not the case at all! Aphrodite was seen as the perfect woman by her peers and worshippers. Aphrodite was a goddess of passion and while she may have taken that too far, it is no denying that she used her beauty to her advantage.
If you were to get an Aphrodite tattoo, it would be a symbol of you being a passionate lover as the goddess was herself. Aphrodite was also really clever and knew how to use her beauty to her advantage, symbolizing a woman’s empowerment and ability to stand on her own two feet in the patriarchal world we live in.
In the end, Aphrodite was always about love. The throes of passion were something that she took part in regularly and it could help you symbolize as a person out there looking for love and not afraid to open up about it.
My favorite reason for an Aphrodite tattoo I had once done was the mourning of a lover which I will come to in a bit when explaining the design of such tattoo. But what I really liked about that tattoo was that even though Aphrodite was a confident and clever goddess, she allowed herself to be vulnerable. That is something that you could explore as well and truly embrace the femininity and strengths that a woman needs in her life, even during her lowest points.
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6 Aphrodite Tattoo Ideas Relating To Her Stories and Symbolism
There are many tattoo designs that you can think of when you want an Aphrodite tattoo so let’s explore the different ideas you can come up with!
1. Simple Aphrodite tattoo
If you want nothing fancy, then getting a simple line work done that showcases Aphrodite is the perfect way to symbolize your femininity. It is a great tattoo to have on your hips or shoulder. You could also get a blackwork style Aphrodite tattoo so that you can show off an amazing black design of the goddess for a minimalistic approach.
2. Aphrodite in water tattoo
If you want to symbolize what Aphrodite stood for, there is nothing better than to start from her beginnings in the sea. An Aphrodite tattoo where she is by the sea or surrounded by water can be a great tattoo design to depict the goddess.
3. Aphrodite nude tattoo
Since Aphrodite was often depicted in the nude, you can get a tattoo that looks like her in the nude. It shows how open you are and not afraid to lay bare your heart and body to the one you love. It might be a bold tattoo to get but with the right design, it could look really good.
4. Aphrodite statue tattoo
Aphrodite has had many statues of her made in her honor all over Ancient Greece and some can be still seen today. It was a way to devote and worship her and you could do the same with one to show you are channeling the inner beauty of the goddess herself.
5.Aphrodite dove tattoo
The pure dove might be something that you might not immediately think of when you think of Aphrodite but it was one of her sacred animals and one which she was often associated with. It symbolizes pureness and the love that you have for someone.
6. Aphrodite rose tattoo
Probably my favorite Aphrodite tattoo design! It has a really sad backstory to it relating to Adonis. During a hunting trip, Adonis was struck by boar and died in Aphrodite’s arms. As the goddess wept, her tears and his blood mixed together to form a red rose. This could be a tattoo that you get for the loss of a lover and could act as a symbol of mourning. The one I made was stylized with a butterfly because I felt that the transformation of the butterfly could help my client mourn her loss and see it as a chance to change for the better.
For these sorts of tattoos, anywhere on the body is fine! As long as the design is something that you and your tattoo artist can agree upon, it will be a great tattoo. Be bold with your Aphrodite tattoo and don’t be afraid to show it either!
FAQs
Can I get an Aphrodite if I am a guy?
While most of the design ideas are for women, it does not mean you can’t get one if you are a man! The rose tattoo is a great example that you could get as well. Or you can get an Aphrodite in water but instead it is of someone you like instead!
What is the best Greek god to get tattooed?
There are many Greek gods and goddesses to choose from. From Zeus, Hermes, and Poseidon, to Athena, Artemis, Apollo, and Hera. As long as you connect with the god or goddess, you can get their tattoo and that is what I would consider to be the best Greek god tattoo to get!
What is a Venus goddess tattoo?
As Roman mythology adopted Greek mythology, Aphrodite’s name in the Roman one became Venus. So a Venus goddess tattoo is the same as getting an Aphrodite goddess tattoo!
Final Thoughts
Aphrodite is seen as a great goddess who was confident in herself and knew how beautiful she was. She used this to her advantage and was never afraid to show it either. But embracing your femininity and womanhood doesn’t mean that you have to let go of your more emotional side as Aphrodite had done for Adonis. You can be strong and vulnerable as well and that is what having an Aphrodite tattoo means! It is all about how you carry yourself and present to others while also being in tune with your feelings when you need to be. So if you want to embody Aphrodite, don’t be afraid to show that sleeve or back tattoo off!
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