# Aphrodite — The Iliad character guide

> Aphrodite in The Iliad by Homer.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Venus, golden Venus, laughing Venus

**First appearance:** 0001-the-iliad

## Who they are

Goddess of love, who protects Paris and Aeneas.

## In the story

### [Book III: Single Combat of Menelaus and Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-iii-single-combat-of-menelaus-and-paris)

Rescues Paris from certain death by breaking his helmet strap and shrouding him in mist, then compels Helen to join him.

### [Book V: The Exploits of Diomed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/chapters/book-v-the-exploits-of-diomed)

Rescues her son Aeneas from Diomedes, but is wounded in the hand by Diomedes and flees to Olympus.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters/aphrodite
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_iliad_se/characters