Aphroditus

Ancient authors and modern summaries present Aphroditus as a local form of Aphrodite originating at Amathus on Cyprus and later celebrated in Athens. Ancient testimonia sometimes identify or assimilate this figure with Hermaphroditus, though sources vary between treating Aphroditus as a distinct local cultic figure and as closely related to the later-named Hermaphroditus.

Ancient descriptions and surviving figurines depict Aphroditus as having a female shape and clothing like Aphrodite's while also bearing an explicit phallus. Statues and terracotta figurines occur in the anasyromenos posture (a woman lifting her dress to reveal male genitals); Macrobius reports a Cypriot statue described as bearded, dressed as a woman, holding a scepter and bearing male genitals (this last detail appears in his citation of earlier writers).

In ancient accounts Aphroditus is credited with apotropaic influence—the exposed blended-sex display (anasyromenos) was believed to avert evil and bestow good luck—and with fertility agency: the combination of male and female and association in some testimonia with the moon were held to give the deity influence over animal and vegetable fertility. Cult practice included sanctioned cross-dressing during sacrifices and festivals, where men wore women's dress and women wore men's, as part of participating in the deity's blended-gender power.