Ἀφροδίτη

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Ancient Greek

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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The theonym is found in Homer and Hesiod (c. 8th century B.C.). Traditionally it has been viewed as a compound, ἀφρός (aphrós, sea foam, froth) +‎ -δίτη (-dítē), connecting the first part with the legend of the goddess' birth.[1] This has not been accepted by modern scholars.

There is no etymology generally accepted in scholarship. Some such as Beekes propose that the name in its entirety is a loan from a non-Greek language, of probable "oriental origin", possibly Cypriot Phoenician (such as in the Idalion bilingual). A connection to Akkadian 𒀭𒈹 (dIštar) has been further proposed.[2][3]

An older, now rejected proposal[4][5] of a Greek etymology connects -δίτη (-dítē) with the verb δέατο (déato, to shine, to appear, seem) (Homeric δῆλος (dêlos, visible, conspicuous, clear)) and interprets the name as originating from an epithet of the dawn goddess Ἠώς (Ēṓs).

Associated by the Romans with Venus, originally a goddess of less meaning and prominence.

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Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Ᾰ̓φροδῑ́τη (Aphrodī́tēf (genitive Ᾰ̓φροδῑ́της); first declension

  1. (Greek mythology) Aphrodite
  2. the planet Venus

Inflection

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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References

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  1. ^ Paul Kretschmer, “Zum pamphylischen Dialekt”, Zeitschrift für vergleichende Sprachforschung auf dem Gebiet der Indogermanischen Sprachen 33 (1895): 267.
  2. ^ Robert Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, vol. 1 (Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2010), 179.
  3. ^ Martin Litchfield West, “The Name of Aphrodite”, Glotta 76 (2000): 134-8.
  4. ^ Ernst Maaß, “Aphrodite und die hl. Pelagia”, Neue Jahrbücher für das klassische Altertum 27 (1911): 457-468.
  5. ^ Vittore Pisani, “Akmon e Dieus”, Archivio glottologico italiano 24 (1930): 65-73.

Further reading

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