Aphrodite's Riddle: A Novel of Goddess Worship in Ancient Greece (Paperback)

~ Jennifer Reif (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

As a publisher, I'm often asked why I chose to make certain books available to the pagan community. The answer to Aphrodite's Riddle is simple: because we loved this story and it invoked Something Greater Than Us.

When I was a child and not yet able to read, I hid under my twin bed and stared longingly at the pictures of Gods and Goddesses in my Christian family's encyclopedia. The first stories I remember were tales of Greek mythology, though as much from memory as from reading. This novel brought back those early moments of discovery-and more.

In Aphrodite's Riddle, the setting is as much a character as Aphrodite, Demeter, Persephone, or even Aila and Bereus. Author Jennifer Reif enriched this story with extensive research on Ancient Greece, Goddess worship, and temple life. Jennifer even research ancient Greek weddings at the J. Paul Getty Museum Library, which is a small private library in a museum complex.

"It was a wonderful experience to sit a t luxurious bond wood desk with special soft lighting and explore rather old books," Jennifer told me.

And it's a wonderful experience to live her research through the eyes of two young lovers devoted to the Goddess of Ancient Greece.

About the Author

Jennifer Reif is a woman of many talents--artist, poet, musician, and multi-published author. She has studied the relationships between nature, ancient cultures, and their mythologies for almost 20 years.

She has taught Wicca and Goddess Religion in the Los Angeles, California, area for many years. She now lives in Venice, California.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Spilled Candy Publication (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892718472
• ISBN-13: 978-1892718471
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,213,234 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Thrilling Read!, May 23, 2003

By	Zeta Sanderson (Burbank, CA) - See all my reviews

First of all, its so beautifully written, delicious descriptions of people and places. The writing is very visual. You are there, in ancient Greece, at the Temple of Demeter. There's a pretty incredible visit to Aphrodite's temple too, when Aila seeks help from a priestess for her dilemma. When the story ended I just wanted to go back into that world. This is a story of two lovers who through perseverance and determination, find there way through the restrictive traditions of Greek life, to solve an amazing puzzle. The riddle itself (yes there is one) is very enticing and mysterious. Like two detectives on the hunt, Aila and her lover Bereus seek to find the clues to unravel the riddle. Full of magic, Goddess sightings, and real temple life as seen by the eyes of a priestess. If you enjoyed "Mists of Avalon," then you will love this book. This is a book I will cherish and reread many times. You won't be able to put this one down! A classic!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aphrodite's Riddle - A Review, June 24, 2003

By	Maxine Haleff (Los Angeles, CA.) - See all my reviews

Aphrodite's Riddle ponders a question that has long puzzled scholars of ancient Greece,and is based on convincing and solid research. At the same time, it imparts the fun and suspense that can accompany the search for ancient secrets and questions involving the very human life of the protagonists.

Aila Daphne Phillida has fallen in love with Bereus Kahnan, but her family disapproves of him. They send her away for training to become a Melissa, or priestess of Demeter at Eleusis. She blames Aphrodite for her plight, but the goddess hears her complaint, and what transpires makes a very engaging mystery. We are carried back to the times when the gods and goddesses were a living force in the hearts and minds of these people. Caught within the dilemmas of her age, the heroine must find her way out with the aid of a riddle that Aphrodite gives her.

Not wanting to be separated from Aila, Bereus obtains a job at Eleusis working for the Priest of Records to inventory the temple gifts. In the meantime, one of the precious sacred objects of the Temple, or Hiera, disappears and someone accuses Aila of stealing it. With the aid of Aphrodite's curious riddle Aila and Bereus search together for the original sacred Hiera, which had been lost for many years. These Hiera have been a subject of conjecture by many scholars,and the story offers an intriguing solution as we pursue the fate of the heroine. For anyone interested in ancient Greece and mythology, it's a must read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and educational, August 2, 2004

By	A. Kennedy (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jennifer Reif has crafted a novel that combines fascinating details about life and faith in Ancient Greece with a page-turning mystery and a touching romance between star-crossed lovers. The book kept me reading through a plane-ride and made the time in the waiting area zip by. I couldn't wait to see how it would all work out, and find out the answer to the riddle.