Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty, so it is no surprise that her children are some of the most attractive beings in existence.
She was married to Hephaestus, the Olympian god of fire, blacksmiths, and metalworking, she was frequently unfaithful to him and had many lovers, thus imitating the work of Zeus, the father of the gods, who also had many erotic escapades.
We will take a comprehensive look at the children of Aphrodite. We will explore their origins, their powers, and what makes them so special.
Some of the most famous children of Aphrodite were:
Who are Aphrodite’s Children?
Aphrodite’s Children With Ares
Eros
Eros is the god of love and desire. He is often portrayed as a young man with wings, carrying a bow and arrow. His arrows are tipped with a love potion, which causes anyone who is hit by it to fall in love with the first person they see.
As the son of Aphrodite, Eros inherited his mother’s beauty and charm. He is said to be so handsome that even the gods were enchanted by his looks. In addition to his good looks, Eros is also a talented archer. His arrows always find their mark, whether he is shooting at animals or humans.
Phobos and Deimos
Phobos and Deimos are the twin sons of Aphrodite and Ares. They are the personifications of fear and terror, respectively. Phobos is often depicted as a young man with wings, while Deimos is usually portrayed as a older man with snake-like features.
Harmonia
Harmonia, the goddess of harmony and concord, represents the peaceful union of opposites. Traits that are a testament to her parentage from both Aphrodite and Ares. As the embodiment of marital bliss and civic unity, Harmonia was highly revered in Greek culture. With her marriage to Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, she was celebrated as a symbol of the harmonious balance between love and strife.
In art, Harmonia is often depicted holding a lyre or a cornucopia, symbols of music and abundance. She is also often depicted as a beautiful woman wearing a crown of roses.
Pothos
Pothos, the god of longing and yearning, is a poignant figure in Greek mythology. As a son of Aphrodite, Pothos inherited a deep connection to the heart’s yearnings, often depicted with a look of eternal searching and a torch, symbolizing the burning passion of unrequited love. His presence in art and literature often reflects the universal longing for connection. Of the pursuit of what is just beyond reach. He is the embodiment of the human journey towards fulfilment, and the eternal quest for something more.
Anteros
Anteros, the god of requited love and avenger of unrequited love, stands as a counterpart to his brother Eros. Where Eros kindles the flames of love, Anteros rewards those whose love is returned and punishes those who scorn the affections of others. Often depicted with scales, Anteros symbolizes the equilibrium necessary in love, reminding us that true affection is not one-sided but a shared bond.
His presence in myth serves as a moral compass, guiding hearts towards sincerity and away from the selfish aspects of love.
Himeros
Himeros, the god of sexual desire, embodies the raw, unbridled passion that often goes hand-in-hand with love. As a son of Aphrodite, he shares his mother’s deep association with beauty and attraction. Himeros is often depicted alongside his brother Eros, but while Eros represents romantic love, Himeros symbolizes the physical and intense longing that can accompany attraction. His presence in myth serves as a reminder of the powerful and sometimes overwhelming force of physical desire. Of its primal role in the human experience of love and attraction.
Aphrodite’s Children With Hermes
Aphrodite and Hermes had one child together – Hermaphroditus.
Hermaphroditus was also considered one of the Erotic gods and sometimes called Atlantiades since Hermes was the great-grandchild of Atlas.
In Greek mythology, Hermaphroditus was the god of hermaphrodites and effeminates. He was said to have been united eternally with Salmacis, one of the nymphs, who deeply loved him. Consequently, his name and existence embody both male and female elements.
Aphrodite’s Children With Poseidon
Rhodos
Rhodos was the goddess of the island of Rhodes, as well as being the personification and wife of Helios,the sun-god.
She was a Sea Nymph who was born to Poseidon (the ruler of the sea) and Aphrodite . Rhodos gave birth to seven sons by Helios; three of these were heroes associated with three main cities on Rhodes: Camirus, Ialysus, and Lindus .
Eryx
The son of Aphrodite and Poseidon, Eryx was the king of the city of Eryx in Sicily. He was considered a famous and skillful boxer, even daring to steal the finest bull from a herd that was guarded by Heracles.
Heracles then challenged him to a boxing fight, an action which led to his death according to one version of the myth. Another tells that Perseus turned him into stone with Medusa’s head.
Aphrodite’s Children With Dionysus
Peitho
In Greek mythology, Peitho was the goddess of charming speech, persuasion and seduction. She was the daughter of Aphrodite and Dionysus, and also served as a handmaiden and herald of the goddess of love.
Peitho represented both sexual and political persuasion. She was usually depicted in art as a woman with her hand raised in the act of persuasion, while her symbols were a ball Weaving truth into lies- that is what lobbyists doof thread or rope) and a courting/messenger dove.
Priapos
Priapos was one of the children of Aphrodite and Dionysus. He was a fertility god who protected livestock, fruit, plants, and male genitalia. He was also often identified with other phallic Greek deities including Dionysos, Hermes, and the satyrs Orthanes and Tikhon.
His representation in Roman erotic art and literature made him a popular figure, and he was commonly shown wearing a peaked Phrygian cap and boots with a cone-tipped thyrsus resting by his side.
Aphrodite’s Children With Anchises
Aeneas
Aeneas was a mythical hero of Troy and the founder of Rome. The son of Aphrodite and Trojan prince Anchises, Aeneas led the Trojan survivors after their city fell to the Greeks.
Aeneas was not only brave, but also a great military leader, second only to Hector. Roman mythology praises him highly as an ancestor of Remus and Romulus, the founders of Rome. In fact, he is considered the first true Roman hero.