Before she was Aphrodite, she was Kypris, and before she was Kypris, well, she was Astarte and Inanna/Ishtar. This is the story of Aphrodite's origins in ancient Phoenicia and Mesopotamia. You can submit your questions or comments or favourites here! Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!

CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.

Sources: Theoi.com entry on Aphrodite; Early Greek Myths by Timothy Gantz; Aphrodite by Monica Cyrino; Venus and Aphrodite by Bettany Hughes; Article: Before Kypris was Aphrodite by Stephanie L. Budin; Herodotus' Histories, translated by GC Macauley (opening quote only).

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Wandering Across the Ancient World, the Mesopotamian & Phoenician Origins of Aphrodite