The wished to unmake you

They wished to shame you

They wished to erase your praises-

-from the lips of devotees

Oh blessed Aphroditê

They tore down your statues

They invaded your temples

They turned love into a crime-

-but we are still here

Singing your name and screaming your praises

Let it be known they did not succeed

Let it be known that you live on

Let it be known that even though your temples-

-are no longer visited by thousands

The temples in our hearts beat as one

I am so sorry for what they did to you

So sorry for their rage

So sorry for their ignorance-

-but know you are still worshipped

You are honored with the highest graces

Let us hold you-

-those of us who know you

Let us praise you-

-those of us who still know how

Let us be with you-

-now and all the days of our lives

Do Ut Des

Credit: Aön Re - Temple Hyacinthus

Moisa, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite Kypria, who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures that the dry land rears, and all the sea: all these love the deeds of rich-crowned Kythereia. Hail, goddess, queen of well-builded Kypros ! With you have I begun; now I will turn me to another hymn.

Source: theoi.com/Olympios/Aphrodite.html

"I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Kypros. There the moist breath of Zephyros the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, ad there the gold-filleted Horai welcomed her joyously. Hail, sweetly-winning, coy-eyed goddess! Grant that I may gain the victory in this contest, and order you my song. And now I will remember you and another song also."

Source: theoi.com/Olympios/Aphrodite.html

"Of Kythereia, born in Kypros, I will sing. She gives kindly gifts to men: smiles are ever on her lovely face, and lovely is the brightness that plays over it. Hail, goddess, queen of well-built Salamis and sea-girt Kypros; grant me a cheerful song. And now I will remember you and another song also."

Source: theoi.com/Olympios/Aphrodite.html

“To Aphrodite. Ourania, illustrious, laughter-loving queen, sea-born , night-loving, of awful mien; crafty, from whom Ananke first came, producing, nightly, all-connecting dame. 'Tis thine the world with harmony to join, for all things spring from thee, O power divine. The triple Moirai are ruled by thy decree, and all productions yield alike to thee: whatever the heavens, encircling all, contain, earth fruit-producing, and the stormy main, thy sway confesses, and obeys thy nod, awful attendant of Bakkhos God. Goddess of marriage, charming to the sight, mother of the Erotes (Loves), whom banquetings delight; source of Peitho, secret, favouring queen, illustrious born, apparent and unseen; spousal Lukaina, and to men inclined, prolific, most-desired, life-giving, kind. Great sceptre-bearer of the Gods, 'tis thine mortals in necessary bands to join; and every tribe of savage monsters dire in magic chains to bind through mad desire. Come, Kyprogenes, and to my prayer incline, whether exalted in the heavens you shine, or pleased in odorous Syria to preside, or over the Aigyptian plains they care to guide, fashioned of gold; and near its sacred flood, fertile and famed, to fix they blest abode; or if rejoicing in the azure shores, near where the sea with foaming billows roars, the circling choirs of mortals thy delight, or beauteous Nymphai with eyes cerulean bright, pleased by the sandy banks renowned of old, to drive thy rapid two-yoked car of gold; or if in Kypros thy famed mother fair, where Nymphai unmarried praise thee every year, the loveliest Nymphai, who in the chorus join, Adonis pure to sing, and thee divine. Come, all-attractive, to my prayer inclined, for thee I call, with holy, reverent mind."

Source: theoi.com/Olympios/Aphrodite.html

Oh most radiant Lady Aphroditê

She who leads us to the ocean

She who is wife of Lord Ares

Former consort of Lord Hephaestus

And mother to Divine Hermaphroditos through Lord Hermes

In you we know all beauty

In you we see all splendor

In you we know the ocean shore

And the seafoam you were born from

Take these offerings and altar

As a token of our devotion

Know that it is humble

Like we who kneel before you

Know that it is open

Like the temples we host for you

Know that is is without shame

Like we are when in your sight

Be with us now - and all the days of our lives

Do Ut Des

Credit: Aön Re - Temple Hyacinthus