Venus and Aphrodite Audiobook By Bettany Hughes cover art

Venus and Aphrodite

History of a Goddess

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Venus and Aphrodite

By: Bettany Hughes
Narrated by: Bettany Hughes
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About this listen

Through ancient art, evocative myth, exciting archaeological revelations and philosophical explorations Bettany Hughes shows why this immortal goddess endures through to the 21st century and what her journey through time reveals about what matters to us as humans.

Charting Venus' origins in powerful ancient deities, Bettany demonstrates that Venus is far more complex than first meets the eye. Beginning in Cyprus, the goddess' mythical birthplace, Bettany decodes Venus' relationship to the Greek goddess Aphrodite and, in turn, Aphrodite's mixed-up origins both as a Cypriot spirit of fertility and procreation - but also as a descendant of the prehistoric war goddesses of the Near and Middle East, Ishtar, Inanna and Astarte.

On a voyage of discovery to reveal the truth behind Venus, Hughes reveals how this mythological figure is so much more than nudity, romance and sex.

It is the both the remarkable story of one of antiquity's most potent forces and the story of human desire - how it transforms who we are and how we behave.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Bettany Hughes (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group
Ancient History Religious Studies Ancient History
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Critic reviews

Erudition, with an erotic frisson ... In this lively, wide-ranging book, Hughes paints a portrait of a darker Venus, a violent, vengeful "shape-shifting" Venus, with salt in her hair and surf at her feet (Laura Freeman)

An intriguing tale that tracks the gorgeous and omnipresent Venus of western civilisation back 6,000 years ... engrossing (Charlotte Hobson)
A marvellous biography of a goddess that delves beneath her passive modern image ... Hughes's account of Aphrodite's early evolution forms the most fascinating sections of this superb book (Catherine Nixey)
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I love it. As a devoted of Aphrodite and Venus and this that taught me so much about the legends and believes of the goddess throughout the ages from the beginning to are currently times

Love

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it certainly has the touch of Venus. Delicious to listen, and as always a learning experience with Bettany. Love it!!

what a pleasure

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Bettany, you are truly a wonder to behold. I’ve already listened through this book and already ready for round two.
Do write more.
Sincerely Gabriel M.

Bettany Hughes is the voice of Venus.

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Really enjoyed the book! Did not care for the last half hour or so but the beginning was easily worth the price!

it was pretty good

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So much info. Great and also meaningful. As an astrologer, it adds nuanced layers to my practice

Great history of Venus

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I will think about Greek and Roman gods and myths differently now, not as static things. I am not a historian, but I love to learn about history. Love the long looks back through a topic connected to a wider world that also bring one up to the present. I have enjoyed every show, book and now narration of hers. You had me at “Bettany Hughes.”

Wonderful narration.

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This foray into Aphrodite was over so soon. This is a beautiful piece and so well researched and written. I just wish there were more. Would love a novelized retelling, and/or more examination/exploration.

This topic is altogether intriguing.

Lovely listening to this British scholar read her own work, and it inspired and informed me to consider this Goddess from a new perspective and to correlate to the fate of the feminine in some ways, and wishing for a resurrection of her might in the spirit of the early times when she was intrinsic and marvelous. Maybe more examples and commentary. Lovely images in the PDF.

Do add this to your list, and it’s not long. You can spend the morning with it.

Short take on an intriguing topic

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Exceptionally well done and I would expect nothing less from Bettany Hughes! She is an expert researcher and a world class presenter and narrator!

Great Book!

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