Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society Origins of Aphrodite: The Sex-Positive Goddess
Nov 28, 2025
Dr. Stephanie Budin, a historian specializing in ancient religions and sexuality, dives into the captivating origins of Aphrodite. She reveals Aphrodite's surprising powers beyond sexuality, including her roles in civic harmony and sea protection. Discussing her Cypriot roots and the evolution of her iconic imagery, Stephanie contrasts the Greek goddess with her Roman counterpart, Venus. She also debunks myths about sacred prostitution and sheds light on early Christian attitudes towards her, emphasizing Aphrodite's enduring influence in contemporary sexuality.
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Aphrodite's Cypriot Roots
- Aphrodite is fundamentally a Cypriot goddess with core sanctuaries at Paphos and Petra tou Romiou.
- Stephanie Budin links her origin to long-standing island cults and local epithets like Kypris and Kyprogenes.
The Nude Figurine Tradition
- Nude female figurines spread from Mesopotamia to Cyprus and became a standardized erotic icon.
- Cyprus adapted these images into local religious practice long before Greek textual traditions.
Near Eastern Lineage
- Aphrodite evolved from Near Eastern goddesses like Sumerian Inanna and Akkadian Ishtar.
- Those goddesses combined martial power with intense sexuality, traits that influenced Aphrodite's profile.
