Aphrodite is a celebrated figure deeply connected with beauty, sexuality and love in ancient myth but do we really know who she is and what she stands for? A captivating Greek goddess, who according to popular myth was born from sea foam, she is as fascinating now as she was then to both Gods and mortals. A powerful, multifaceted woman with a story as deep as the ocean from which perhaps she came, she is often erroneously presented as a fertility goddess, but she is certainly sensual, sexual and even maternal. With new stories from submissions and a long, commissioned introduction examining the ancient tales and the impact on culture and society, this is an awesome new title in the Myths, Gods and Immortals series, exploring misrepresentations and inventing exciting new character stories. AUTHOR: Stephanie Lynn Budin (Ph.D. Ancient History, University of Pennsylvania) is an ancient historian who focuses on gender, religion, sexuality, and iconography in ancient Greece and the Near East. Her published works include Gender in the Ancient Near East (Routledge 2023), The Myth of Sacred Prostitution in Antiquity (Cambridge University Press, 2008), and The Origin of Aphrodite (CDL Press, 2003), as well as numerous articles on ancient religion, gender, and iconography. She has lectured throughout North America, Europe, the Near East, and Japan. Hardback, Deluxe edition, foiled and embossed, with red foiled edges