Aphrodite

Famous goddess of love and beauty, but also war. She is often accompanied by her son, Eros, or the Kharites, also known as the Graces.

Selected Epithets

For transparency, I am excluding an epithet related to peeping since that isn't something I condone.

Adapted from Theoi.com.

Offerings

• Roses
• Myrtle
• Anemone (poppy)
• Quince
• Apple
• Incense
• Perfumes
• Bull and ram meat (must be male)
• Flowers and herbs
• Pomegranate (Cypros)

Pigs are commonly noted in religious laws as bad to offer to Aphrodite. Of course, Ancient Greece was not a monolith, so this depended on the location. If you are reconstructing your practice based on a specific location, look to the laws of that location. Otherwise, I'd err on the side of caution and avoid it.

Altar Suggestions

• Venus de Milo artwork
• Botticelli's Birth of Venus
• Shells
• Makeup and perfumes
• Jewelry dedicated to her
• Real or faux roses

Prayers and Hymns

Homeric Hymn 10

“Of Kythereia, born in Kypros, I will sing. She gives kindly gifts to men: smiles are ever on her lovely face, and lovely is the brightness that plays over it. Hail, goddess, queen of well-built Salamis and sea-girt Kypros; grant me a cheerful song. And now I will remember you and another song also.”

Orphic Hymn 55

“To Aphrodite. Ourania, illustrious, laughter-loving queen, sea-born, night-loving, of awful mien; crafty, from whom Ananke first came, producing, nightly, all-connecting dame. 'Tis thine the world with harmony to join, for all things spring from thee, O power divine. The triple Moirai are ruled by thy decree, and all productions yield alike to thee: whatever the heavens, encircling all, contain, earth fruit-producing, and the stormy main, thy sway confesses, and obeys thy nod, awful attendant of Bakkhos God. Goddess of marriage, charming to the sight, mother of the Erotes, whom banquetings delight; source of Peitho, secret, favouring queen, illustrious born, apparent and unseen; spousal Lukaina, and to men inclined, prolific, most-desired, life-giving, kind. Great sceptre-bearer of the Gods, 'tis thine mortals in necessary bands to join; and every tribe of savage monsters dire in magic chains to bind through mad desire. Come, Kyprogenes, and to my prayer incline, whether exalted in the heavens you shine, or pleased in odorous Syria to preside, or over the Egyptian plains they care to guide, fashioned of gold; and near its sacred flood, fertile and famed, to fix they blest abode; or if rejoicing in the azure shores, near where the sea with foaming billows roars, the circling choirs of mortals thy delight, or beauteous Nymphai with eyes cerulean bright, pleased by the sandy banks renowned of old, to drive thy rapid two-yoked car of gold; or if in Kypros thy famed mother fair, where Nymphai unmarried praise thee every year, the loveliest Nymphai, who in the chorus join, Adonis pure to sing, and thee divine. Come, all-attractive, to my prayer inclined, for thee I call, with holy, reverent mind.”

Sappho's Prayer to Aphrodite

“Immortal Aphrodite of the shimmering throne, daughter of Zeus, weaver of wiles, I pray thee crush not my spirit with anguish and distress, O Queen. But come hither if ever before thou didst hear my voice afar, and hearken, and leaving the golden house of thy father, camest with chariot yoked, and swift birds drew thee, their swift pinions fluttering over the dark earth, from heaven through mid-space. Quickly they arrived; and thou blessed one with immortal countenance smiling didst ask: What now is befallen me and why now I call and what I in my heart's madness, most desire. What fair one now wouldst thou draw to love thee? Who wrongs thee Sappho? For even if she flies she shall soon follow and if she rejects gifts, shall soon offer them and if she loves not shall soon love, however reluctant. Come I pray thee now and release me from cruel cares, and let my heart accomplish all that it desires, and be thou my ally.”

Another Prayer by Sappho

“Come, goddess of Cyprus, and in golden cups serve nectar delicately mixed with delights. Come hither foam-born Cyprian goddess, come, And in golden goblets pour richest nectar All mixed in most ethereal perfection, Thus to delight us.”

Anonymous Prayer

“Goddess of Cyprus, end my pain, disperse the cares that gnaw my heart, restore my happiness, break off my morbid brooding, grant me cheerfulness and better sense: I’ve had my span of youth.”

Anonymous Global Prayer to Aphrodite

“Hail, Paphian goddess! For all mortals,

Whose lives are but a day, pay honor always

To your power, your immortal beauty,

And your majesty which breeds desire,

In all their beauteous words and beauteous works.

For you make known the honor you possess

To everyone, and everywhere on Earth.”