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Most everyone has some basic understanding of the Greek gods. Usually it involves either Disney's Hercules or Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, and maybe (if they've taken classics in college) they'll mention that Zeus was a freak.
Then there's Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love. I was curious as to western and European depictions of the ancient goddess, so I did a quick google search. Just one simple question: "What does Aphrodite look like?" The most popular result was Sandro Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus," showcasing the heavenly woman in an over-sized clam and with cascading blonde hair. I also saw a lot of Halloween costumes draped across stick thinned and big-breasted women. Now before I continue I should warn you: this piece is not about beauty standards as epitomized by the way we remember ancient gods. This piece is about Cyprus, though. My mother's island, and Aphrodite's mythical birthplace. |
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