Aphrodísios

This name derives from the Medieval Greek “Aphrodísios (Ἀφροδίσιος),” meaning “sacred to Aphrodite, dedicated to Aphrodite,” from the Ancient Greek “aphrós (ἀφρός),” meaning “foam, of the sea.” Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman equivalent is in Roman mythology is the goddess, Venus. Although married to Hephaestus, she had many lovers, most notably Ares. Saint Aphrodisius is a saint associated with the Diocese of Béziers, in Languedoc, southern France. According to Gregory of Tours, Aphrodisius was an Egyptian who was martyred in Languedoc along with his followers Caralippus (Caralampus), Agapius, and Eusebius. A Christian tradition states that he was a prefect or high priest of Heliopolis who sheltered the Holy Family at Hermopolis when they fled into Egypt.