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   akannan Teacher
   Middle School

   eNotes Editor

   There can be many explanations being offered through this myth.  The first would be how beauty and the goddess of beauty entered the world.  Arising from the sea and the domains of Poseidon, the birth of Aphrodite can help to explain the natural beauty and reverence in and of the sea and natural bodies of water, in general.  Having Aphrodite marry Hephaestus helps to explain how beauty and ugliness can be one in the same, and not necessarily diametrical opposites of one another.  The goddess of beauty is wedded to the ugliest of the Olympians.  This is a fairly compelling image that helps to explain the dualistic conception of beauty and ugliness which exist in the world.  Another explanation offered is that how physical beauty, itself, might not be a permanent and lasting condition, as evidenced in the many affairs Aphrodite has despite her marriage. Perhaps, a statement is being made about the nature of physical beauty being different from emotional beauty.

   Sources:

   http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Am-Ar/Aphrodite.html

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   Posted by akannan on Friday September 11, 2009 at 4:54 PM