Bettany Hughes' history of the goddess of love and fertility includes not only the classical divinities named in the title but also their Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Phoenician precursors. It is fascinating how these cultural icons, while superficially similar, varied between cultures and over time. The Semitic goddess Astarte and early Greek Aphrodite, for example, were seen as fierce goddesses of war and conflict, not just the gentle goddess of love and lust with whom we are familiar. The author goes on to show how Aphrodite/Venus influenced the Christian image of the Virgin Mary and continues to have an impact on popular culture. The text is accompanied by excellent illustrations. My only complaint about the book is its brevity--I would have liked more. ( )

Kind of boring. ( )

A historical exploration of the phenomenon of the goddess of love in the Western world.

The author sets forth the mythology, worship, devotion, and influence of the goddess we have come to know as Aphrodite in Greek (Venus in Latin). She starts with the birth story of Aphrodite and the emphasis of service in Cyprus; she then goes back in time to witness the fertility goddess of prehistoric Western Europe and the Wanassa of Mycenean Greece, then shifts east to Inanna/Ishtar/Astarte of the ancient Near East and the association of love and war. The various permutations of Aphrodite/Venus in Greek and Roman culture are then explored, and the connections between Aphrodite, sexuality, violence, fertility, etc. in Classical culture. She then explores the "post-history" of Aphrodite in medieval, renaissance, and early modern art and culture, and the continuation of her influence in modern society.

The book is written for the lay reader without much experience in the Classics, and written in that British imperial style which emphasizes the personal travels and experiences of the author. The work provides a good introduction to the nature and influence of the goddess of sexuality in Western culture and society.

**galley received as part of early review program ( )