A review by lightningsews
Venus and Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes

Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.

There aren’t any citations for any of the claims- despite some being contested in Classical studies. Also makes the blunder of assuming Aphrodite and Venus are the same goddess, but Innanna and Ishtar aren’t? Innanna, Ishtar, Aphrodite, and Venus are all separate goddesses who, through propaganda and syncheotisim, share similar stories, roles in society/ religion, and iconography. I was willing to stick to it just to see what ridiculous statements would be made for Venus and the Romans (and if Uni, the Etruscan goddess who plays a similar role in Etruria as the other goddesses, is even mentioned) but Hughes uses the term “non-binary” to explain figures that display the primary and secondary sex characteristics of male and female bodies (despite the fact that women with conditions like PCOS can display the sex traits of females can also grow beards and PCOS and others aren’t some new conditions). 

Extremely disappointed by something that has so much potential if only Hughes could source their work and have their thoughts reviewed by experts on these goddesses and what role they played in various cultures.