Aphrodite's Dagger

Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure, has a rich and complex history in Greek mythology. According to myth, she was born from the sea foam after the titan Cronus castrated his father Uranus, and his severed genitals were cast into the sea. As the sea foam churned and bubbled, Aphrodite emerged, fully grown and incredibly beautiful. In some versions of the myth, she is depicted as rising from the waves and being carried on a scallop shell to the island of Cyprus. This birth story links her closely to the sea and its symbols, such as seashells and pearls. The hilt and handles of the Aphrodite Hair Dagger pay homage to this facet of the story.  Aphrodite was married to the god Hephaestus, but her love affairs with other gods and mortals, such as Ares and Adonis, are well-documented in Greek mythology. She is often associated with roses, myrtles, and the moon, and she is worshipped as the embodiment of love, desire, and fertility. The blade of the hair dagger features