KiarraSimsJean TheMostBeautifulWomanintheWorld

Aphroditewasthegoddessoflove,beautyandfertilityandalsoaprotectorof sailors.EventhoughtheGreeksnamedherAphrodite,theRomanscalledherVenuswhen theyadoptedher.AphroditewasanOlympiangodwholivedonMountOlympusand marriedtothecraftsmangod,Hephaestus.Hephaestuswasadeformed,uglymanwho wasmarriedtoAphroditebecausehisjobmadehimsobusy.AsHephaestuswentoffto work,Aphroditebecameinvolvedinaffairswithmortalheroes. Aphroditeinspiredloveandadmirationinothers.Peoplewouldpraytoherfora kindhusbandorlovingwife.CountlessGreekgirlsandboysprayedtoheraskingtofind love.Shewasalsoconstantlykeepinglovebetweenmanandwifetomaintainlove betweenlovers.Sheisalsothelovethatexistsbetweenmotherandchild,betweenfather andson.Sheallowsfamiliestobondandconnectwitheachother. AphroditewassaidtohavecausedtheTrojanWar(againsttheGreeksand Spartans).WhentheheroPeleuswasmarriedtotheseanymphThetis,allthegodswere invitedtotheceremonyexceptAphrodite.Shewasangrythatshewasnotinvitedand maliciouslyplacedagoldenappleonthebanquettable.Thefruitwasinscribedwiththe legend,"Forthefairest".Immediatelyallthegoddessesbegantoargueonwhosebeauty entitledhertobetherightfulwinnerofthisprize. Thentheydecidedtoputthedisputetoajudge.Reasonablyenough,the designatedjudgewastobethemosthandsomemortalintheworld.Thisturnedouttobea nobleTrojanyouthnamedParis,whowasservingasashepherdatthetime.Sothethree finalistsAphrodite,HeraandAthenawenttoParis,whowasworkinginthemeadows. Thethreegoddessesproceededtoofferbribes.Hera,thequeenofOlympus,took Parisasideandtoldhimshewouldhelphimruletheworld.Athena,goddessofwar,said shewouldmakehimvictoriousinbattle.Aphroditewastoguaranteeloveofthemost beautifulwomanintheworld.ThemostbeautifulwomanwasHelen,whohappenedtobe marriedtothekingofSparta.ParispromptlyawardedthegoldenappletoAphrodite,who inturnallowedhimtomarryHelenthenbecameHelenofTroy.Helen'searlierhusbandand hisbrotherraisedaGreekarmytobringbackhiswife,whichstartedoftheTrojanWar.