# Venus — Bulfinch’s Mythology character guide

> Venus in Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Adonis Venus, Adonis

**First appearance:** 0020-viii-pygmalion-dryope-venus-and-adonis-apollo-and-hyacinthus

## Snapshot

Goddess of love whose beauty is carved into marble and whose favor or fury decides what mortals are allowed to want.

## Who they are

Venus presides over the myths where desire becomes fate — the judgment of Paris, the passion of Adonis, the trials of Cupid's lovers. Bulfinch pauses on her statue in the Medici collection, noting that sculptors modeled her from the city's most perfect forms, as if beauty itself required a committee. That blend of divine authority and human craftsmanship is the point: Venus is both a power mortals pray to and an image mortals keep trying to reproduce.

## In the story

### [VIII: Pygmalion—Dryope—Venus and Adonis—Apollo and Hyacinthus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/viii-pygmalion-dryope-venus-and-adonis-apollo-and-hyacinthus)

Goddess of love who blesses Pygmalion's union and later mourns the death of Adonis, transforming his blood into the anemone flower.

### [VIII: Pygmalion—Dryope—Venus and Adonis—Apollo and Hyacinthus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/viii-pygmalion-dryope-venus-and-adonis-apollo-and-hyacinthus)

Beloved of Venus, killed by a wild boar despite her warnings; his blood is transformed into the anemone.

### [Venus and Adonis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/venus-and-adonis)

Accidentally wounded by Cupid's arrow, falls in love with Adonis, abandons heaven to follow him, warns him of dangerous beasts, and later transforms his blood into the anemone flower.

### [Venus and Adonis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/venus-and-adonis)

A mortal youth beloved by Venus; disregards her warning, hunts a wild boar, and is killed by it.

### [Cupid and Psyche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xi-cupid-and-psyche)

Goddess of love who, jealous of Psyche's beauty, imposes harsh tasks upon her.

### [Cadmus—The Myrmidons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xii-cadmus-the-myrmidons)

Mother of Harmonia, whom Cadmus marries; the gods attend the wedding.

### [XIII: Nisus and Scylla—Echo and Narcissus—Clytie—Hero and Leander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xiii-nisus-and-scylla-echo-and-narcissus-clytie-hero-and-leander)

Goddess of love; Hero is a priestess of Venus.

### [Hero and Leander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/hero-and-leander)

Goddess whom Hero serves as a priestess.

### [Meleager and Atalanta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xviii-meleager-and-atalanta)

Goddess who aids Hippomenes with golden apples but punishes the couple for neglecting to honor her.

### [Atalanta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/atalanta)

Goddess who aids Hippomenes with golden apples but later punishes the couple for ingratitude.

### [Ariadne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/ariadne)

Venus takes pity on Ariadne and promises her an immortal lover.

### [XXVII: The Trojan War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxvii-the-trojan-war)

Goddess who favors the Trojans; promises Helen to Paris and aids his escape.

### [Palinurus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/palinurus)

Aeneas's mother, who intercedes with Neptune for her son's safe passage and later sends doves to guide him to the golden branch.

### [Origin of Mythology—Statues of Gods and Goddesses—Poets of Mythology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxxv-origin-of-mythology-statues-of-gods-and-goddesses-poets-of-mythology)

Mentioned as the subject of the Venus de Medici statue by Cleomenes.

### [The Venus de Medici](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-venus-de-medici)

The goddess Venus is the subject of the Medici statue, described as the embodiment of female beauty.

### [XXXVI: Modern Monsters—The Phoenix—Basilisk—Unicorn—Salamander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxxvi-modern-monsters-the-phoenix-basilisk-unicorn-salamander)

The Unicorn is said to be tamed only by a virgin, a theme linked to Venus and chastity.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/v)

Listed as the goddess of beauty, with reference to the Venus de Medici statue.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters/venus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters