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School and Teacher Programs 2011 - 2012
Aphrodite and the Gods of Love
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ancient Sources on Aphrodite (in Translation):
Anonymous. “The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite.” In The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite: Introduction, Text, and
Commentary. Andrew Faulkner, translator. Oxford University Press, 2008.
One of a number of “Homeric Hymns” (so-called for their stylistic resemblance to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey),
each dedicated to a different god or goddess, this one praises the power of Aphrodite (who, as Love, no living
creature can resist) and describes the conception of her half-mortal son Aeneas, future mythic ancestor of the
Romans and protagonist of Virgil’s Aeneid.
Apuleius. “The Tale of Cupid and Psyche.” In The Golden Ass, Books 5-6. Kenney, E. J., translator. Penguin
Classics, 1999.
Just one part of the only complete Latin prose novel which survives today, this is the story of Psyche, the most
beautiful woman in the world, her love for the handsome god Cupid, and the trials imposed on her by his
spiteful mother, Venus.
Hesiod. Theogony. Caldwell, Richard S., translator. Focus Information Group, 1987.
The Greek creation myth, which establishes the hierarchy of the gods and describes the spontaneous birth of
Aphrodite.
Ovid. Metamorphoses. Mary M. Innes, translator, introduction. Penguin Classics, 2006.
Ovid’s legendary poetic compilation of transformation myths includes a detailed account of the story of Venus
and Adonis, plus many stories of related deities (Hermaphroditus, Cupid, etc).
Sappho. “Sappho 1”. Campbell, David A., translator. In Greek Lyric: Sappho and Alcaeus (Loeb Classical
Library No. 142). Harvard University Press, 2002.
A personal, heartfelt plea to the goddess Aphrodite to intercede in unrequited love, written by Sappho, the
only female poet of Ancient Greece and one of the greatest of either gender.
Modern Sources on the Culture, Art History and Mythology of Ancient Greece and Rome:
Clark, Andrew, et al. Understanding Greek Vases: A Guide to Technical Terms (Looking at Series). J. Paul
Getty Museum Publications, 2002.
An introduction to Greek vases, such as the many featured in “Aphrodite and the Gods of Love.”
Cochrane, Ev. “Aphrodite.” In The Many Faces of Venus: The Planet Venus in Ancient Myth and Religion. Aeon
Publishing. Available at http://www.maverickscience.com/venus-aphrodite.htm
School and Teacher Programs 2011 - 2012
Aphrodite and the Gods of Love
Bibliography
A guide to the weighty mythological significance which cultures around the world have assigned to the planet
Venus, the “Morning and Evening Star”.
Cyrino, Monica S. Aphrodite (Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World). Routledge, 2010.
Part of a series on the most important Greco-Roman mythological figures, this book specifically focuses on
Aphrodite herself and presents an overview of the goddess’s stories and character.
Dalby, Andrew. Venus: A Biography. J. Paul Getty Museum Publications: 2005.
A comprehensive history of Venus/Aphrodite/related goddesses, written in the style of a conventional
biography.
Jenkins, Ian. Greek and Roman Life. Harvard University Press, 1986.
A guide to daily life in the ancient Classical world.
Harris, William. “Sappho Poem I—Translation and Transliteration (with commentary).” Available at
http://community.middlebury.edu/~harris/Texts/sappho.1.html
A thoughtful and accessible article about Sappho’s plea to Aphrodite mentioned above. Includes the author’s
own translation and a transliteration of the original Greek into English letters.
Lefkowitz, Mary. Greek Gods, Human Lives: What We Can Learn from Myths. Yale University Press, 2005.
In a series of essays, Mary Lefkowitz examines the myths of the ancient world and how they impacted and
influenced the lives of those who wrote them, as well as how we can apply them to our own lives today.
Mattusch, Carol C. ed. Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture around the Bay of Naples. Thames and
Hudson, 2008.
A guide to the artistic treasures of the unfortunate Roman city of Pompeii, seven examples of which are
featured in “Aphrodite and the Gods of Love”.
Pedley, John G. Greek Art and Archaeology. Prentice Hall, 2011.
A highly accessible and engaging basic introduction to the art history of Ancient Greece.
Ramage, Andrew and Nancy H. Roman Art. Prentice Hall, 2008.
An overview of Roman art and art history.
Spivey, Nigel. Understanding Greek Sculpture: Ancient Readings, Modern Meanings. Thames and Hudson,
1997.
A guide to the interpretation of ancient sculpture.
School and Teacher Programs 2011 - 2012
Aphrodite and the Gods of Love
Bibliography
Woodford, Susan. The Art of Greece and Rome. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Classroom Resources:
Art Babble. Available at http://www.artbabble.org/
A wide-ranging archive of videos about art organized into “Channels” dealing with the same broad topic and
including interviews with artists, videos of artists at work, and discussions of artists or specific pieces by
curators. Explore Art Babble’s Roman and Ancient Channels for videos about the art of the Classical world.
Buxton, Richard. The Complete World of Greek Mythology. Thames & Hudson, 2004.
A good basic reference for Greek mythology in general, appropriate for grades 9 and up.
D'Aulaire, Ingri, and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire. Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths. Garden
City, NY: Doubleday, 1962.
Perhaps the most famous children’s guide to the mythology of Ancient Greece ever written, D’Aulaire’s Book
of Greek Myths features detailed illustrations on every page and is just as enchanting today as it was fifty
years ago. Works well for independent readers or as a read-aloud book.
“Greco-Roman Origin Myths.” Available at http://www.nga.gov/education/classroom/
origin_myths/art_pandora.shtm
An online lesson plan with suggestions on how to use five modern pieces of art with classical subject matter
to teach Greco-Roman mythology and principles of art observation.
Lombardi, Anne. “Aphrodite: Her Power and Her Art.” Submitted to Images of Women in the Ancient World:
Issues of Interpretation and Identity, Spring 1998. Available at
http://www.arthistory.sbc.edu/imageswomen/papers/lombardiaphrodite/aphrodite.html
A general overview of Aphrodite featuring a number of pictures of Classical and post-Classical art devoted to
the goddess.
Orgel, Doris. We Goddesses: Athena, Aphrodite, Hera. DK Children, 1999.
An illustrated children’s book which focuses on three of the most important goddesses of Greek mythology
and offers a feminist twist on their mythology.
Ross, Cynthia, Edgar Parin D'Aulaire, and Ingri D'Aulaire. A Guide for Using D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
in the Classroom. Teacher Created Materials, 2000.
A guide to using the D’Áulaires’ seminal book of children’s mythology as a teaching resource.
School and Teacher Programs 2011 - 2012
Aphrodite and the Gods of Love
Bibliography
“The Theoi Project.” Available at http://www.theoi.com/
Easy to use, extremely detailed and well-cited, this online encyclopedia offers comprehensive guides to all the
deities, heroes and monsters of Ancient Greece, often with photos of relevant artwork.
Music of the Ancient World:
Ensemble de Organographia. “Music of the Ancient Greeks.”
The Ensemble de Organographia is a modern group which uses reconstructed ancient instruments to perform
music that was written down in ancient times. Their CD “Music of the Ancient Greeks” is readily available from
Amazon.com and other webstores, and they can also be found on YouTube.
Modern Poetry about the Goddess Aphrodite/Venus:
A broad selection of “modern” poetry, from William Shakespeare to Louis Simpson, which draws on the
Classical myths of Aphrodite and Venus. Excerpted or used in their entirety, any or all of these poems could
serve as a useful comparative exercise, especially in conjunction with poetry or artwork from the ancient
world.
Daley, Victor J. “Aphrodite.” First published in At Dawn and Dusk (1913). Available at
http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/daley-victor-j/aphrodite-0039005
A love-poem which uses the legend of Aphrodite’s birth as a metaphor for the birth of new love.
Hoffman, Daniel. “Aphrodite.” In Beyond Silence: Selected Shorter Poems, 1948-2003. Louisiana State
University Press, 2003.
Musings on Aphrodite/Venus’ survival in Classical sculpture.
Shakespeare, William. “Venus and Adonis.” In The Poems: Venus and Adonis, The Rape of Lucrece, The
Phoenix and the Turtle, The Passionate Pilgrim, A Lover’s Complaint. John Roe, editor. Cambridge University
Press, 2006. Also available online at http://www.shakespeare-w.com/english/shakespeare/w_venus.html.
A long poem which uses the myth of Venus and Adonis to explore Love’s many faces.
Simpson, Louis. “Venus in the Tropics.” In Chicago Review, Vol. 27, No. 1, Summer, 1975. Available at
http://www.jstor.org/stable/25303309
A subtle contemporary appearance of the goddess and her charms.
Shelley, Percy Bysshe. “Adonais.” Available at http://www.online-literature.com/shelley_percy/656/
Percy Shelley’s ode to the tragedy of Venus’ lover Adonis (which he renders A-don-ay-is).