What is Venus (mythology)?
[[File:Sandro Botticelli - La nascita di Venere - Google Art Project - edited.jpg|thumb|300px|''The Birth of Venus'' by [[Sandro Botticelli]].]] In [[Roman mythology]], '''Venus''' is the [[goddess]] of [[love]] and beauty. She was the Roman version of the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] [[Aphrodite]] and [[Etruscan mythology|Etruscan]] [[Turan (goddess)|Turan]]. Her cult began in Ardea and [[Lavinium]], [[Latium]]. On [[August 18]], [[293 BC]], the first [[temple]] to her was built . August 18 was then a festival called the Vinalia Rustica. On [[April 1]], the Veneralia was celebrated in honor of Venus Verticordia, the protector against vice. On [[April 23]], [[215 BC]], a temple was built on the [[Capitoline Hill|Capitol]] dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at [[Lake Trasum]]. Venus was also married to [[Vulcan (mythology)|Vulcan]], who was the god of fire, volcanoes and blacksmiths. [[Julius Caesar]] claimed Venus Genetrix as his own personal, divine ancestress. ==Related pages== * [[Aphrodite]] - [[Greek mythology]] version of Venus. {{commonscat|Venus (dea)|Venus}} {{Roman myth (major)}} {{Europe-stub}} [[Category:Roman gods and goddesses]] [[Category:Gods and goddesses of beauty]] [[Category:Gods and goddesses of fertility]] [[Category:Gods and goddesses of love and lust]]