Aphrodite is a person.
Aphrodite ( [ æfrəˈdaɪti ] ; Greek : Αφροδίτη ( Afrodíti ) ) is the Greek goddess of love , beauty , pleasure , and procreation . She is identified with the planet Venus ; her Roman equivalent is the goddess [ Venus ( mythology ) , Venus ] . In Homer 's Iliad , however , she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione . Despite this , Aphrodite followed her own inclinations , and had many lovers -- both gods , such as Ares , and men , such as Anchises . She played a role in the Eros and Psyche legend , and was both lover and surrogate mother of Adonis .