ABSTRACT
In this final chapter, we will consider Aphrodite's enduring power as a symbol of beauty, adornment, love and sexuality, an image that lasted beyond Greek antiquity and still persists today in modern popular culture. As background to this inquiry, we will first take a brief look at the intersection between Greek Aphrodite and Roman Venus, exploring how the representations of the two goddesses influenced each other for a time during Greco-Roman antiquity, and how the figure of the Roman goddess Venus subsequently came to dominate the Western literary and artistic tradition, especially in Europe. Next this chapter will investigate the various implications and functions of the brand name “Aphrodite” in contemporary marketing, beauty and fashion advertising, and book publishing. This chapter will conclude with a survey of some memorable on-screen appearances of Aphrodite in modern film and television productions.
