Aphrodites

Aphrodites is a term that may be encountered in reference to followers, adherents, or devotees of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. In standard classical usage, the goddess’s followers were usually described as Aphrodite worshippers or, in Greek, Aphroditai; Latin inscriptions more commonly render the term as Aphroditae. The plural form Aphrodites is not a central or widely used designation in primary sources, but it can appear in discussions or translations to denote a group associated with Aphrodite or to refer to local cult figures connected to her cult.

Origins and epithet usage: Aphrodite’s name is of uncertain origin, with several etymological theories proposed in scholarly literature. The goddess was worshipped under various epithets and local titles, such as Cypris (from Cyprus) and Urania (the heavenly), reflecting different aspects of her nature and cult practices. The use of Aphrodites as a plural or collective label generally ties back to these wider religious or mythological contexts rather than to a distinct, named sect.

Cult and rituals: In ancient Greece and the broader eastern Mediterranean, temples dedicated to Aphrodite existed in many cities, most famously in Cyprus at Paphos. Cult activities often included ritual offerings, rites of fertility, and ceremonies performed by priestesses and male devotees. The precise forms of worship varied by city and period, and discussions of sacred prostitution within Aphrodite’s cult are debated among scholars and not universally accepted as a defining feature of her worship.

In literature and art: Aphrodite appears widely in myths and artistic representations, embodying both the allure and the potential dangers of love and attraction. The term Aphrodites, when used, typically serves as a descriptive or translational variant rather than a specific mythic figure.