Aphroditus

diamoricnymphia:

I’ve done a lot of talking and a lot of thinking, and I think it’s finally time to introduce you to a very important aspect of Aphrodite that not many people know of: Aphroditus

Arriving from Cyprus (my girls home island) to the mainland around 4th century AD. she is often displayed similarly to the above in cult objects, a girl raising her dress to reveal a penis. This was traditionally a gesture of good luck, and of averting evil.

Short History of Trans People in Ancient Times

To understand Aphroditus fully, we need to go into the history of Aphrodite as a whole. She developed from Ishtar, a middle eastern goddess associated with love, beauty, sex, war, political power, and more. Notably, it is well recorded that trans women worked in her temples regularly. She moved from Assyria to Cyprus, then to the mainland. 

In Greece, especially early Greece, trans people were well respected. Artemis, Athena, and Aphrodite had temples almost entirely staffed with trans people, as well as Dionysus being trans himself. However Rome was not so kind, and a lot of the Roman retellings of myths demonized trans people. 

However her statues are not shown as a charicature or a mocking. Most notably her penis is of an average size, at a time when large penises showed a lesser, more crude character. Her hair is also bound and perhaps covered, which was typical of women at the time. 

Cult Use

Aphroditus herself fell out of use when Rome ate Greece. Some think she became Hermaphroditus, some think she was a predecessor. However as a trans worshiper of Aphrodite, I think it is more likely that she is an aspect of Aphrodite specifically for trans women. Though the -us ending is typically male, it is likely used here to distinguish her from Aphrodite as a whole, this being a time when trans people were seen as embodying “both” genders.

Personally, I usually see Aphrodite as a trans woman. Because I am not a trans fem I don’t worship her specifically as Aphroditus, or refer to her as such, as it doesn’t seem entirely respectful. I do talk to her about trans stuff more than Dionysus, because I’m closer to her and she’s familiar with femininity and being trans.

I love her so much and I wanted to make sure I had enough research and thought before talking about her as Aphroditus. I hope to see some thoughts if y’all have never heard of her!

As a last note, I have sources on all of this, however the language can be triggering for some people, because academia (and ancient roman sources) are very cis and doesn’t think about trans people. However if you want them I can provide them!