Venus and Aphrodite, Bettany Hughes
Venus and Aphrodite, Bettany Hughes
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Venus and Aphrodite
A Biography of Desire

Author: Bettany Hughes

Narrator: Bettany Hughes

Unabridged: 3 hr 11 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Basic Books

Published: 09/22/2020

Synopsis

A cultural history of the goddess of love, from a New York Times bestselling and award-winning historian.
Aphrodite was said to have been born from the sea, rising out of a froth of white foam. But long before the Ancient Greeks conceived of this voluptuous blonde, she existed as an early spirit of fertility on the shores of Cyprus -- and thousands of years before that, as a ferocious warrior-goddess in the Middle East. Proving that this fabled figure is so much more than an avatar of commercialized romance, historian Bettany Hughes reveals the remarkable lifestory of one of antiquity's most potent myths.
Venus and Aphrodite brings together ancient art, mythology, and archaeological revelations to tell the story of human desire. From Mesopotamia to modern-day London, from Botticelli to Beyoncé, Hughes explains why this immortal goddess continues to entrance us today -- and how we trivialize her power at our peril.

About Bettany Hughes

Bettany Hughes is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster. Her previous books include Venus and Aphrodite (shortlisted for the Runciman Award), Istanbul (a Sunday Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Runciman Award), The Hemlock Cup (a New York Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Writers Guild award) and Helen Of Troy. All her books have been translated into multiple languages. She has made many documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4, PBS, National Geographic, ABC and the Discovery and History channels. Bettany has been a Professor at the New College of Humanities and Research Fellow at King's College London. She has been honoured with numerous awards including the Medlicott Medal for services to history, Europe's Cultural Heritage Prize and an OBE for services to history.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Maja on October 16, 2020

SHORT AND SOMEWHAT CURSORY 'BIOGRAPHY' OF APHRODITE One the one hand I really liked that this was a short book. Often times I want to read non-fiction, but get tired halfway through because of the sheer length. It was nice to get a short non-fiction book for once. On the other hand, it did leave some......more

Goodreads review by ⊹ Ellie ⊹ on February 22, 2025

This was a short but interesting biography of the goddess of love, Aphrodite-Venus. Even when you think you know her myth, she has so much more history and influence than you can imagine. The book explores her origins (she had three early ancestors) and the connection between the Greek Aphrodite and......more

Goodreads review by Rebecca on October 14, 2020

I devoured this little book while lazing on the almost mythic, dreamy beaches of Australia’s South West. Something about that region always draws me to read/write/paint Greek mythology, so coming across this in a tiny bookshop seemed like serendipity. Bettany Hughes writes really beautifully. Her wri......more

Quotes

"A marvellous biography of a goddess that delves beneath her passive modern image."—BBC History Magazine

"Informative and entertaining."—Publishers Weekly

"An intriguing tale that tracks the gorgeous and omnipresent Venus of western civilisation back 6,000 years ... engrossing."—The Spectator

"In this lively, wide-ranging book, Hughes paints a portrait of a darker Venus, a violent, vengeful 'shape-shifting' Venus, with salt in her hair and surf at her feet."—The Times

"This is a thoroughly enjoyable history of Venus, the goddess of love, and her many manifestations throughout history. From antiquity through modern day, historian Hughes artfully weaves together elements of myth, history, religion, philosophy, literature, art, and pop culture to demonstrate this deity's centuries-long impact... Fun and fascinating..."—Booklist

"Quick paced, insightful, and often times humorous, this newest work by Hughes is an approachable look at the ancient legacy of the goddess, Aphrodite-Venus. The author provides an impressive exploration of over 4,000 years of human history, as well as the relationship between the goddess and the collective human psyche."—Library Journal

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