Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, is of more recent origin. Originating in Cyprus, her cult spread to Sparta, Corinth and Athens. The feasts held in her honour were called aphrodisiacs and were celebrated by all of Greece. Her symbols include myrtle, the dolphin, the dove, the swan, the pomegranate and the lime. Among those she protects are sailors and artisans.

Among the coins with depictions of Aphrodite on the obverse in the Gulbenkian Collection are those from Lampsakos, with the winged horse Pegasus on the reverse, and three others from Knidos with a lion’s head and forepaw on the reverse. Lastly is a coin in which Aphrodite appears with her head in profile on the reverse and Dionysus on the obverse, both cult deities in Nagidos, Kilikia, but normally appearing in full-bodied depictions.