Aphrodite
There are a number of myths concerning the origins of Aphrodite. I'll only consider Hesiod's writings, where Aphrodite is transformed from an Eastern fertility deity to a goddess of love and beauty.
In Hesiod's "Theogony", the world emerges from chaos, followed by the birth of the 12 titans, whose parents were Ouranos, the sky, and Gaia, the earth. Unprepared for the responsibilities of fatherhood, Ouranos hides his offspring inside Gaia's body. In pain Gaia cries out for help, whereupon Kronos, the youngest, responds by castrating Ouranos and tossing his genitals into the Mediterranean Sea. The genitals are enveloped in a mist of white foam from which a beautiful maiden appears. She was transported on a scallop shell to the Greek island, Kythera where she was called Kytherea. She then travels to Cyprus, where she was first worshipped, and is named Aphrodite, which means "she who comes from foam." When she first walks on Cypriot soil, grass springs up under her feet and she is affirmed as a fertility goddess who revitalises the earth.
Aphrodite's temple at Corinth was renowned for its priestesses who performed initiation rites and provided sexual services to incoming sailors. As time went on, Aphrodite's role of a goddess of love overshadowed her role as a fertility deity. In Hesiod's "Works and Days", Zeus assigns the roles of the Olympic deities. Aphrodite's role is that of goddess of love and beauty, while her former role as a goddess of agriculture is given to Demeter.
It is interesting to note that Venus rules both Libra and Taurus. Aphrodite's role as a goddess of love is certainly compatible with her rulership of Libra. However, her rulership over Taurus suggests that we should be mindful also of her original role as a fertility goddess.
Aphrodite is commonly called up for workings involving love, graciousness, beauty, success in romance and the arts.
For the Graeco-Egyptian magickians, the colour blue corresponds to Aphrodite.
