This chapter introduces Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Aphrodite emphasized passion and desire over the more spiritual forms of love, and her myths offer some of the juiciest reading of the ancient world. Here you'll also meet her husband, Hephaestus. You'd think the goddess of carnal love would be married to a sexy, attractive man. Not so. Hephaestus was a master craftsman, but he was ugly and walked with a limp. They were the original odd couple.