Adonis

Adonis is a figure in Greek mythology best known as a mortal youth of exceptional beauty and a lover of Aphrodite, and in some traditions also Persephone.

Adonis is a figure from Greek mythology known for his exceptional beauty and his role as a lover of Aphrodite. His story of death and rebirth is tied to the seasonal cycle, and his name has become a byword for male attractiveness.

What it is

Adonis appears in Greek mythology as a mortal youth of remarkable beauty. He is best known as the favourite or lover of Aphrodite, and some traditions also involve Persephone. Ancient sources connect him with vegetation and seasonal renewal.

Why it matters

The myth of Adonis is commonly interpreted as a story of death and return, reflecting the cycle of nature through winter and spring. Scholars have linked him to older Near Eastern vegetation cults, showing how Greek mythology absorbed and adapted foreign elements.

Key details

In the central version, Adonis is gored by a wild boar while hunting and dies in Aphrodite's arms. His name is traced to a Semitic or Phoenician word meaning 'lord'. In modern English, 'adonis' is used figuratively for a very handsome man.