The worship of Aphrodite was probably of Semitic origin, but was early introduced into Greece. The Aphrodite of Homer and Hesiod displays both Oriental and Grecian characteristics. Among the Phœnicians Venus is known as Astarte, among the Assyrians as Istar. There were temples and groves dedicated to Venus in many places, and in some of them--Paphos for instance--gorgeous annual festivals were held. The festival of Venus that was celebrated in Rome in April was called the Veneralia. Sapho calls Aphrodite the "star-throned, incorruptible, wile-weaving child of Zeus." XX One of the many myths connected with Venus was that of Berenice who, fearing for her husband's life, prayed to the goddess to protect him as he set out to battle. She vowed to give her beautiful hair as a sacrifice to Venus if he returned home in safety. The prayer was granted, and Berenice's luxuriant tresses were laid on the goddess's shrine, whence they soon mysteriously disappeared. When an astrologer was consulted in regard to the supposed theft, he pointed to a comet in the sky, and declared that the gods had placed Berenice's hair among the stars to shine forever in memory of her wifely sacrifice. XXI References and allusions to Cupid abound in poetry. A few of the best-known poems are:-- Eros EDMUND GOSSE Ode to Psyche JOHN KEATS The Lost Eros THOMAS ASHE The Unknown Eros COVENTRY PATMORE Story of Cupid and Psyche WILLIAM MORRIS Hue and Cry After Cupid BEN JONSON The following is a charming little poem by John Lyly:-- "Cupid and my Campaspe play'd At cards for kisses, Cupid pay'd. He stakes his quiver, bow and arrows, His mother's doves, and teeme of sparrows, Looses them too; then downe he throwes The coerall of his lippe, the rose Growing on's cheek (but none knows how), With these, the crystal of his brow, And then the dimple of his chin; All these did my Campaspe winne; At last hee set her both his eyes; She won, and Cupid blind did rise. O love! has she done this to thee? What shall (alas) become of mee?" XXII There is a very old story of a woman's love for her husband and her efforts to win him back from Death which is known in every part of India. On a certain night in the year millions of Hindu women celebrate a rite in honor of Savitri. The story is told in the Mahabharata, an ancient epic of India. Walter Pater, in "Marius the Epicurean," gives the story of Cupid and Psyche as contained in Apuleius. Many of the incidents of the story will be found in modern fairy tales and romances such as "Beauty and the Beast"; Grimm's "Twelve Brothers"; the Gaelic stories: "The Three Daughters of King O'Hara," "Fair, Brown and Trembling," "The Daughter of the Skies"; and the Norse tale, "East of the Sun and West of the Moon." XXIII