pantheon of passion

The gods the Greeks called upon for luck in love

Aphrodite

Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty and sexual love. When Uranus’ genitals fell in the sea, Aphrodite emerged naked from the resulting foam. Her beauty meant she was feared by the other gods as they believed rivalries over her could turn into all-out war

Eros

Known in Ancient Rome as Cupid, Eros was the god of sexual desire who fell in love with Psyche, a human princess. When they were separated, Psyche wandered the earth looking for Eros’ lost love. Eventually, Aphrodite took pity on the couple and allowed Psyche to become immortal.

Her a

Zeus’ wife (and sister) Hera was the goddess of women and childbirth, among other things. In part because of her husband’s philandering nature, she had a fierce temper and was known to throw many heavenly beings out of the sky, including her own son.

Zeus

The ruler of all the gods, Zeus used his power to seduce anyone he wished. He was known to transform himself or his object of desire into an animal so that he could get his way. There’s a very long list of his mistresses and the children he fathered.

pan

Though he was technically the god of shepherds, nature and flocks, in some parts of Ancient Greece Pan was believed to have dabbled in sexscapades and even bestiality. Pan constantly harassed nature’s nymphs, who would go to great lengths to get away from his lecherous gaze.