Aphrodite was the beautiful goddess of love. She was the only
Olympian without a mother or father. No one knew were she came
from. The North Wind had first seen her when she arose from the
sea on a cushion of foam. She floated over gentle the waves, the
wind almost lost his breath. With soft puffs, he blew her ashore
to the island Cythera. The three Graces, goddesses of beauty,
became her attendants. They dressed her in shimmering garments,
bedecked her in a golden chariot drawn by white doves. They took
her to Olympus, where all the gods rejoiced in her beauty,
seated her in a golden throne and made her one of the gods. Zeus
was afraid that the gods would fight over her hand in marriage.
So he told Hephaestus that she would be his wife. He was
honored. He made her jewels and a magic girdle. Their son was
Eros (Cupid). He darted about with a bow and a quiver full of
arrows. They were arrows of love and he was delighted when he
was shooting them into the hearts of unwary victims. Whoever he
hit fell head over