Overview
Aphrodite is the goddess of romantic love, sexual desire and physical beauty, and true to her nature, has not only inspired other deities into acts of passion (either with each other or with mortals), but has indulged in several affairs of her own. She is married to Hephaestus, but this has not stopped her from consorting with Ares, Hermes, Poseidon, Dionysus, and others, including mortals. Aphrodite can charm any male, either god or mortal, and can inspire any strong emotion (such as love, hate, anger, sorrow, etc.) in any intelligent being.
Aphrodite is extremely vain, and in cases where she has overheard an unfavourable comparison with another woman, will avenge herself by making the transgressor fall in love with a statue, or turning them into a shell, or have bees sting their eyes.
Description
Aphrodite appears as an ever smiling woman of astonishing beauty, either scantily clad or adorned with jewellery and wearing a simple gown.
Holy symbol
Aphrodite's symbol is a sea shell.
Favored weapon
Aphrodite is so remarkably beautiful that her opponents are often so overawed by her beauty that they are rendered incapable of attacking her - ever again. In addition, Aphrodite wields a dagger that can instantly charm (as per the spell) any opponent that she strikes with it. And finally, Aphrodite may harm an opponent and cause them a great deal of physical pain with a mere wave of her hand.
Realm
Great Wheel cosmology
In the Great Wheel cosmology, Aphrodite resides within the planar realm of Olympus, which is located on Arvandor (also known as Olympus), the first layer of the Olympian Glades of Arborea. Aphrodite resides within a palace made of quartz and gemstones, polished to the point where visitors can see their own reflections. The pool Canathus (also known as Evergold), which she shares with other deities of beauty, lies in a ceremonial basin in the exact center of her realm, and is filled with the Water of Beauty and Life.
Olympian cosmology
In the Olympian cosmology, Aphrodite resides within the outer planar realm of Olympus, a great mountain which stands at the center of the world. This mighty peak rises so high above the world, that its heights form a distinct planar realm. It serves as home to the majority of the Olympian deities, not including Hades, and each deity maintains their own personal domain within this realm.
Worship
Aphrodite embodies the joy of passion, freedom and whimsy, and she celebrates the beauty of life in all its forms. While her constant paramour Ares personifies the destructive side of chaos, the passion represented by Aphrodite creates rather than destroys life. Aphrodite urges her worshippers to take whatever pleasure they can from life, without allowing societal mores to restrict their freedom. Though her own actions have resulted in great conflict, she would prefer to see mortals make love rather than war.
Aphrodite's priests are matchmakers, dispensers of advice to the lovelorn and meddlers in other people's personal business. They are also dedicated hedonists, who are also looking for any opportunity to enjoy whatever pleasure they can find before moving on. Every ten days, they must release white doves, and every new moon they must throw objects of art and beautiful jewelry into the sea. They are expected to offer whatever aid they can to those who are in trouble because of forbidden love.
Omens from Aphrodite are often associated with the sea.
In Spelljammer
The inhabitants of Greatspace revere the gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon, especially Zeus, and as such Aphrodite can be considered a native deity.
Appendix
External Links
- Aphrodite article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from 2nd edition AD&D.
- Aphrodite article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.