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Adonis, in Greek mythology, a youth of remarkable beauty, the favorite of the goddess Aphrodite (identified with Venus by the Romans). Traditionally, he was the product of the incestuous love Smyrna (Myrrha) entertained for her own father, the Syrian king Theias.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
In Greek mythology, Adonis (Ancient Greek: Ἄδωνις, romanized: Adōnis; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤃𐤍, romanized: Adón) was the mortal lover of the goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone. He was famous and considered to be the ideal of male beauty in classical antiquity.
- Adonis – Greek God of Beauty and Desire
- The Origins of Adonis
- The Ancient Greek Tale of Adonis Starts with His Birth.
- Adonis and Aphrodite
- Adonis’ Choice
- The Death of Adonis
- Adonis in Roman Mythology
- Adonis’ Symbolism
- Quick Facts About Adonis
- Adonis Trivia
When most people hear the name Adonis, they imagine masculine beauty and the desire of women. Even today, the name is synonymous with physical perfection in men. However, the tale of the Greek god Adonis is far more complex than just physical attractiveness. It’s a story of forbidden love triangles and the death and resurrection of natural beauty.
Adonis eventually became the god of beauty and desire in Greek mythology. However, his origins go back farther than ancient Greece. The cult of Adonis began in Phoenicia, which is now modern-day Lebanon. The Phonecians were Semitic people who worshipped Adonis. Historians believe that it was primarily women who showed adoration to Adonis. Either wa...
He was the product of an incestual relationship between Theias and his daughter Myrrha, sometimes known as Smyrna. Theias was the king of Syria. The legend says that Myrrha fell in love with her father, and after some convincing from the goddess Aphrodite, she tricked him into sleeping with her. Some are a couple of different versions of events. On...
Even shortly after his birth, Adonis reportedly was a sight to behold! His beauty captured the attention of none other than the goddess Aphrodite. She hid him in a box, which she confided with Persephone, the queen of the underworld. Persephone would keep the box and Adonis inside safe for the time being. Out of sheer curiosity, Persephone opened t...
Aphrodite returned to Persephone, planning to take Adonis back as her lover. However, Persephone didn’t want to give him up. Her love made her refuse the exchange, as she vowed to keep him in the underworld for herself! Not pleased by this act of betrayal, Aphrodite confronted Persephonein an attempt to take back Adonis. The dispute became so sever...
Unfortunately, the happy ending that Adonis and Aphrodite had wouldn’t last forever. Adonis was a skilled hunter who spent loads of time killing wild animals. Aphrodite would accompany him on many of these trips. However, one fateful day out would end up being Adonis’ demise. There are a few versions of Adonis’ death. 1 –The first states that his d...
The story of Adonis was well-known by Romans as well. Like many tales in Greek mythologies, there are slight differences in names and events. In this case, Adonis did not meet his lover at birth. Venus, who was the Roman version of Aphrodite, saw him hunting among the forests in Byblos. It was there that she fell in love with Adonis. The events of ...
The myth of Adonis is a memorable one that scholars often attribute to the idea of fleeting beauty. Many believe that his story symbolizes the ancient spirit of vegetation. He represents the natural decay of beauty in the winter and its revival in the spring. The element of the anemone flower supports this. Every spring, the flower only blooms for ...
He was born out of an incestual relationship between Theias and Myrrha.Adonis was birthed from a myrrh tree, which was his transformed mother.Persephone, the goddess of the underworld, raised him.As an adult, Adonis spent two-thirds of the year with Aphrodite and one-third with Persephone.He was known as Tammuz by the Babylonians. Aphrodite was known as Astarte. Theais was Cinyras, the king of Assyria.Adonis was mostly worshipped by women.Adonis is primarily known as the god of beauty and desire. However, many considered him to be a god of fertility as well.His children with Aphrodite were Beroe and Golgos.Mar 10, 2023 · Adonis grew into a handsome young man—so handsome that Aphrodite fell in love with him (as did Persephone, in some traditions). For a time, Adonis enjoyed the company of his divine lover in perfect bliss.
Jul 19, 2023 · Adonis was originally a god of birth, resurrection, love, beauty and desire in Phoenician mythology, but in Greek mythology he was a mortal man, often called the handsomest man that ever lived. Adonis, Aphrodite and Persephone.
Sep 29, 2023 · Adonis often appeared as a young and beautiful young man in ancient Greco-Roman art. He was often depicted as having an idealistic, athletic physique and perfect facial features. He was represented as the pinnacle of male beauty in works of art such as ancient sculptures and vase paintings.
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Each year in ancient Greece, the worshipers of Adonis, mostly women, celebrated his rebirth by planting "gardens of Adonis" for festivals held in his honor. The god has become a symbol of male beauty, and a handsome young man is sometimes called an Adonis.
