Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, was often associated with various sacred birds, animals, and gemstones that held symbolic importance in ancient mythology. These creatures and treasures were revered in connection to her divine power, beauty, and influence over love and desire. Below is an exploration of some of these sacred beings and objects and their significance to Aphrodite.
Sacred Birds of Aphrodite
1. Turtle-Dove & Sparrow
Turtle-doves were sacred to Aphrodite, as seen in various ancient sources. Aelian, in his On Animals (C2nd – 3rd A.D.), writes that white turtle-doves are sacred to both Aphrodite and Demeter. Additionally, in Metamorphoses (C1st B.C. – C1st A.D.), Ovid describes Aphrodite as being carried across the sky by her doves. The dove is often seen as a symbol of love and fidelity, which aligns with Aphrodite’s domain over relationships.
Aphrodite’s connection to sparrows is also significant. In The Golden Ass (C2nd A.D.), Apuleius mentions how sparrows, along with doves, attended Aphrodite’s chariot, symbolizing her presence and influence. In Dionysiaca (C5th A.D.), Nonnus refers to Aphrodite’s doves as her “bridesmaid birds,” further emphasizing their connection to love and union.
2. Goose
The goose was another bird sacred to Aphrodite. Though less detailed in mythological texts, the association of the goose with the goddess is a part of her broader connection to fertility and love, as geese were known for their reproductive nature.
3. Swallow
Swallows, known for building nests near human homes, were sacred to Aphrodite as well. Aelian notes in On Animals (C2nd – 3rd A.D.) that the swallow was sacred to both Aphrodite and the Household Gods, highlighting the bird’s domestic and nurturing associations.
Sacred Animals of Aphrodite
1. Fish
Fish were revered in the mythological narrative concerning Aphrodite’s birth. According to Pseudo-Hyginus in Fabulae (C2nd A.D.), fish played a critical role in the myth of Venus’s (Aphrodite’s) birth, as an egg of extraordinary size, which the fish helped to warm, hatched her. As a result, the fish became sacred to Aphrodite. In later mythology, the fish were associated with Venus’s escape from Typhon, and Syrians refrained from eating fish out of respect for these sacred creatures (Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 30).
Ovid also references Venus transforming into a fish to evade danger (Metamorphoses 5. 319 ff). The fish’s association with Aphrodite thus emphasizes themes of transformation and protection.
2. Shellfish
Shellfish were also sacred to Aphrodite, particularly the cockle-shell, which is famously depicted as the vessel in which she was born, according to myth. Nonnus, in Dionysiaca (C5th A.D.), refers to pearls, which are associated with Aphrodite, as “the Indian stone of love,” highlighting their connection to the goddess. The shell and its gems symbolize Aphrodite’s birth from the sea foam and her deep connection to the waters.
3. Hare
The hare, associated with fertility, was another animal sacred to Aphrodite. According to Philostratus in Imagines (C3rd A.D.), the hare was a symbol of fertility and abundance, qualities closely linked to Aphrodite. It was believed that the female hare could bear multiple litters simultaneously, reinforcing the idea of her connection to fertility and reproduction. Aphrodite’s son, Eros, is often depicted with a hare, further cementing its role as a symbol of unquenchable desire and love.
4. Swine
The swine, though a curious association with Aphrodite, holds significance due to the tragic death of her lover, Adonis, who was gored by a wild boar. This event led to the sacrificial association of pigs in certain rituals. In the Deipnosophistae (C2nd – 3rd A.D.), Athenaeus mentions the “Hysteria” festival in Argos, where pigs were sacrificed to Aphrodite. Despite Aphrodite’s grief over Adonis’s death, the pig became a symbol of both her sorrow and the fertility rituals conducted in her honor.
Sacred Gemstones of Aphrodite
Pearl
The pearl, born from the sea, was a sacred gemstone to Aphrodite. It symbolized her birth from the ocean foam and her deep connection to the water. Nonnus, in Dionysiaca (C5th A.D.), calls the pearl “the Indian stone of love,” further emphasizing its association with Aphrodite’s beauty and romantic power. Pearls, often thought of as symbols of purity and beauty, were considered divine gifts from the sea, reflecting the goddess’s own ethereal and captivating nature.
Conclusion
Aphrodite’s sacred birds, animals, and gemstones reveal the goddess’s profound connections to nature, fertility, and love. Each creature and gem symbolizes a different aspect of her power and influence, from the dove and hare, symbols of love and desire, to the pearl, which encapsulates the beauty and purity she embodies. These sacred beings were honored in various rituals and myths, reinforcing Aphrodite’s enduring presence in the lives of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Sources:
- Aelian, On Animals 10.33 (trans. Schofield)
- Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 197 (trans. Grant)
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.673 ff; 14.597 ff (trans. Melville)
- Apuleius, The Golden Ass 6.6 ff (trans. Walsh)
- Nonnus, Dionysiaca 32.10 ff; 33.4 ff (trans. Rouse)
- Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 3.88a (trans. Gullick)
- Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1.6 (trans. Fairbanks)
- Aesop, Fables 197 (from Chambry 329) (trans. Gibbs)