Aeneas worst nightmare

Afros controlled that region as king, and married Astynome from the island Laceria. He had a daughter he called Aphrodite, naming her too after the planet of heavenly Aphrodite.

it's interesting because usually the planet is named after her and not the other way around, apparently according to Theoi 'the Greeks also named the star itself Aster Aphrodition', that could be another alternative name for our star Hesperus xD

I think it's cute of Aphros to name Aphrodite after a planet, it's sweet, really

Hesperus was Aphroditus all along /j Hesperus so MANY FRICKIN NAMES he's IASION LEVELS OF BAD (but at least they're all different and cool lolol)

Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 42 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :

Then he turned to address Venus [Aphrodite]. ‘My daughter,’ he said, ‘do not harbour any resentment. Have no fear for you high lineage and distinction in this marriage to a mortal, for I shall declare the union lawful and in keeping with the civil law, and not one between persons of differing social status.’

-Golden ass, translation by Vellacott, P

Psyche also successfully finished Venus' very last task which only gives me more reason to believe that at least Venus forgave the girl

Then he roused her with a harmless touch of his arrow, saying: “Look how you've nearly ruined yourself again, poor child, with that insatiable curiosity of yours. Now be quick and finish the task my mother assigned. I'll take care of everything else.” With this he took lightly to his wings, while Psyche, for her part, swiftly carried Proserpine's gift to Venus.

The only negative feeling I feel like it was harder for Aphrodite to get over is the fact that Eros went against her order and married Psyche in secret, idk he essentially betrayed her trust and she was really not happy about it

Now Venus screamed, loud with indignation: “Psyche, that witch who steals my form, that pretender to my name! Is she the one who delights him? Does the imp take me for some procuress, who pointed that same girl out so he might know her?”

-Golden ass, translated by A.S. Kline (I used this same source for all the other quotes)

Fine behaviour, highly creditable to your birth and reputation! First you disregard your mother's orders, or rather your queen's I should say, and fail to visit a sordid passion on the girl, then, a mere boy, you couple with her, my enemy, in reckless, immature love-making, presumably thinking I'd love that woman I hate as a daughter-in-law?

This probably dented their relationship for some time. Eros is Aphrodite's #1 agent, so him losing her trust could also affect their work dynamic and how many missions she assigns to him. When she was lashing at him she also mentioned a lot of ways in which he caused her harm, and I see that as her opening old wounds that she didn't properly heal but also a bit of her putting all the blame of her life choices on his shoulders

You were badly brought up from infancy, quick to raise your hands and fire arrows at your elders in disrespect, and expose me, your mother, to shame each day, you monster! You often make me your target, sneer at me as 'the widow', without fearing your step-father, Mars, the world's strongest and mightiest warrior. Why would you, since you provide that adulterer with a ready supply of girls to torment me with? But I warn you: you'll be sorry for mocking me, when that marriage of yours leaves a sour, bitter taste in your mouth!”

The mother-son angst goes both ways because Venus also caused harm to Eros by going overboard and by torturing his wife

You presume you'll remain the only prince, unlovable, worthless, rake that you are, and that I'm too old to conceive again. Well, know that I'll produce a better son than you. You'll feel the insult all the more when I adopt one of my slave boys, and grant him your wings and torches, bow and arrows, and all the rest of the gear I gave you, which was never intended to be used this way.

If I was Eros this is the part that would have hurt me the most T-T Aphrodite is threatening to essentially disown him over this saying that even a slave would be a better son then he is.

But shifting the focus to Psyche, I really hope she was able to heal from all the trauma she suffered. Something I think people often ignore is that Aphrodite was not the only one to traumatize the poor girl, Eros is also at fault with how he went though the 'courting'. As much fantastical and magical the palace that they spend most of their relationship on sounds, it must have been so lonely and scary for Psyche.

But the need to obey the divine command sent poor Psyche to meet the sentence decreed, the ritual preparations for the fatal marriage were completed in utter sorrow, and the living corpse was led from the house surrounded by all the people. Tearful Psyche walked along, not in wedding procession, but in her own funeral cortege. Her parents saddened and overcome by this great misfortune hesitated to carry out the dreadful deed

When these delights were ended, prompted by the sight of the evening star, Psyche retired to bed. Now, when night was well advanced, gentle whispers sounded in her ears, and all alone she feared for her virgin self, trembling and quivering, frightened most of what she knew nothing of. Her unknown husband had arrived and mounted the bed, and made Psyche his wife, departing swiftly before light fell.

So these are the points that I would LOVE to see being explored:

Psyche and Eros finally getting to truly know each other, they proved their passion but I feel like they need to build those "boring" parts of their relationship, especially since Eros hid his identity most of their relationship.

Aphrodite making amends with Psyche. Psyche definitely did earn Aphrodite's forgiveness (we see Venus dancing at Psyche/Cupid's wedding) but Aphrodite needs to show her gentle side to Psyche, welcoming her to the family while also give her some space to heal

“In addition to the above cases we know of places where 'Peitho' is used as an epithet to define the particular aspect of Aphrodite to which appeal is being made: Pharsalos, Knidos and Mytilene. In the last-mentioned city we have inscriptional evidence for a cult association between 'Aphrodite Peitho' and Hermes. This certainly does not contradict the idea that the context is erotic: at Peace 456 Aristophanes' Trygaios prays to 'Hermes, the Charites, the Horai, Aphrodite and Pothos'; and Plutarch (praec. coni. 138c-d) links Hermes, Aphrodite, Peitho and the Charites when describing the love between man and wife. However, bearing in mind Plutarch's words, we might guess that it was a marriage cult that linked 'Aphrodite Peitho' and Hermes at Mytilene. If so, this is importantly different from Peitho's role at, say, Olynthos, where she is associated with love outside marriage. As we shall see later, this is one of the most significant ambivalences of peitho.”

- R. G. A. Buxton. Persuasion in Greek Tragedy : A Study of Peitho. Cambridge Cambridgeshire ; New York, Cambridge University Press, 1982.

okay so far these are the top 2 (I am surprised with how well Aphrodite x Hera x Zeus is doing lmao, I was expecting it to have like ~3% of votes) in a very unserious light I am thinking of ship names for these throuples

I'll call Adonis x Ares x Aphrodite Adoresdite as a little play with their names and the idea of Adonis and Ares 'adoring aphrodite' (they are hair 2 main lovers I had to do it)

Ik that people call Hera x Zeus Zera, Hera's name but with a Z for Zeus swapping the H, very straight foward. Aphrodite got another name called Kythereia because there is a version of her birth myth where she emerged on the island of Kythera. Kyt-Hera. Kyt-Zera. Kytzera. Genius

Or perhaps she made a point of telling him that the golden apples were hers by right of marriage and gift of the Earth, and that Eris had stolen them from her garden; while Aphrodite and Athena scheme how they could win instead.

I think the former case makes more sense, though the latter is more entertaining.

Hera is first to advance 530-515 BC. Take notice of how relatively indistinct the goddesses are. Other than Athena’s helm, they’re almost indistinguishable.

Hera holds the apple 470 BC. We start to see some of their symbols take form, like Athena’s aegis and Hera’s lotus staff.

Hera clutches the apple 450 BC. Hera is crowned, unlike the other goddesses.

Hera holds out her phiale (offering plate) 360-320 BC. Hera is crowned and veiled, with most of the iconic features being present.

And then ofc the one OP cited, which seemingly locates the judgement in Argos rather than Troy, since this vase (365-350 BC) was clearly modeling Hera off of Polyclitus’ statue (420~ BC). Cuckoo stave, elaborate throne, footstool, and lotus base make that clear enough. This might even literally be set within the Argive Heraion.

The possibility of the winged goddess being Nike, though, does support your idea of this being an AU, maybe a comedy. Maybe the idea is that the statue of Hera came to life and accepted the apple, and that that could be part of the joke.

Here is a modern reconstruction of what her statue may have looked like, given all the scattered information we have on it:

(My only nitpick is that, given the vase shown above, we can assume that her cuckoo had its wings outstretched rather than relaxed)

§ 9.576 NICARCHUS On a Statue of Athena holding an Apple. Aphrodite speaks Trito-born maiden, why dost thou vex me now by grasping in thy hand my prize of which thou hast robbed me. Thou rememberest how formerly, amid the rocks of Ida, Paris pronounced me fairest, not thee. Thine are the spear and shield, but mine is the apple. For the apple that old war was surely enough.

<- prev tags ksksksk

Anyways, all the more reason as to why Hera is the best option out of the three. Maybe if Hera had won Aphrodite and Athena would be mad but not THAT mad, and IF they decide to exert revenge they would probably be more discrete about it cuz I don't think either of them would even dare to punch Hera on her boobs the way Athena punches Aphrodite's in the iliad lol

“On the same mountain [Mount Oeta], Hesperus is said to be worshipped. Hesperus is said to have loved Hymenaeus, a handsome youth. Hymenaeus is reported to have lost his voice while singing at the wedding of Ariadne and Father Liber. From his name, wedding ceremonies are said to have received their designation.”

It’s the Star-Planet Guuyyyy!! (Well one of em lol) it’s planet Venus!

I have ramble rambles but that’s for a ramble post. Focus. Design.

I based him on the paintings of him, giving him very curly locks that’s I love. He’s depicted as a youth but I gave him a lil beard cuz… well cuz (I make too many clean shaven guys because I suck at beards and mustaches and drawing dudes, so I gotta work on something)

His skin is based on Venus, but also on marble as that’s what planet Venus reminded me of when looking at photos lol. It also makes him otherworldly which I like (and he can have pops of color this way too because of Eos, his mom, being Dawn)

Because he’s out in space, he has pretty small wings. They’re big enough to him to get around so he doesn’t make em bigger. (He can’t fly when on Earth because of it tho lolol)