Venus and Aphrodite

History of a Goddess

By: Bettany Hughes

Narrated by: Bettany Hughes

Through ancient art, evocative myth, exciting archaeological revelations and philosophical explorations Bettany Hughes shows why this immortal goddess endures through to the twenty-first century, and what her journey through time reveals about what matters to us as humans.

Charting Venus's origins in powerful ancient deities, Bettany demonstrates that Venus is far more complex than first meets the eye. Beginning in Cyprus, the goddess's mythical birthplace, Bettany decodes Venus's relationship to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, and, in turn, Aphrodite's mixed-up origins both as a Cypriot spirit of fertility and procreation - but also, as a descendant of the prehistoric war goddesses of the Near and Middle East, Ishtar, Inanna and Astarte. On a voyage of discovery to reveal the truth behind Venus, Hughes reveals how this mythological figure is so much more than nudity, romance and sex. It is the both the remarkable story of one of antiquity's most potent forces, and the story of human desire - how it transforms who we are and how we behave.

Critic reviews

Erudition, with an erotic frisson ... 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 (Laura Freeman)

An intriguing tale that tracks the gorgeous and omnipresent Venus of western civilisation back 6,000 years ... engrossing (Charlotte Hobson)

A marvellous biography of a goddess that delves beneath her passive modern image ... Hughes's account of Aphrodite's early evolution forms the most fascinating sections of this superb book (Catherine Nixey)

Explore the mythological Goddess of Love with this stunning book by historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes. She looks at the origins, archaeological revelations and philosophical implications of the woman known to the Romans as Venus, and to the Greeks as Aphrodite

Gorgeously produced . . . The value of the book lies . . . in its pleasurable selection of interesting objects on which to reflect, and fascinating nuggets of information

Whether we know her as the Roman Venus or the Greek Aphrodite, the goddess of love and lust is as powerful today as she has always been. In this beautifully illustrated book, TV historian Bettany Hughes traces Venus-Aphrodite back to her beginnings and follows her career over millennia, right up to the present day

Love

I love it. As a devoted of Aphrodite and Venus and this that taught me so much about the legends and believes of the goddess throughout the ages from the beginning to are currently times

Bettany Hughes is the voice of Venus.

Bettany, you are truly a wonder to behold. I’ve already listened through this book and already ready for round two.
Do write more.
Sincerely Gabriel M.

what a pleasure

it certainly has the touch of Venus. Delicious to listen, and as always a learning experience with Bettany. Love it!!

it was pretty good

Really enjoyed the book! Did not care for the last half hour or so but the beginning was easily worth the price!

Great history of Venus

So much info. Great and also meaningful. As an astrologer, it adds nuanced layers to my practice