Chapter Three
The Differences
Unreliable
Narrator: Plato
Aphrodite Urania focuses on pure love. It's in her name - the love is heavenly and transcends earthly desires.
The men influenced by Aphrodite Pandemos' love are only interested in the body and not the soul. This love is uninspired and will fade with age. Honestly, it's vulgar.
Though Aphrodite Pandemos' integration into the Roman Pantheon may make her more known in the future (let's say in the year 2023 for example), Aphrodite Urania had the most worship centers and important altars, making her the most prevalent Aphrodite in my time.
Aphrodite Urania has a connection to weddings, being called upon for assistance by brides. Her iconography includes her with ladders to represent the help she offers to women in the transitions of their lives. She is a goddess of unity, bringing loved ones into harmony.
Aphrodite Pandemos is the goddess of Athens, and her blessings united the Athenian people socially and politically. She held a lot of influence politically as she is often depicted with Peitho, the goddess of persuasion and sexuality. Politics are pretty rough... much like the love of Aphrodite Pandemos. And hanging out with the goddess of persuasion? Doesn't seem very pure to me.
She may have a connection to wedding rituals too, but that was mainly in Athens. Instead, she and Peitho had a Greek festival in their honor, called Aphrodisia. This festival unified different classes and allowed for sexual services available for everyone. How romantic!