Idols are a person or thing that a person greatly admires, loves, or looks up to. Today idols are very common. Some people may have had an idol from an early age. In the past, an idol might have been a god or goddess; while today an idol could be a famous person or a celebrity. Someone I have always admired for different reasons than most is Marilyn Monroe. I think she's an excellent modern version of Aphrodite. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Enduring Legacy: The Life of Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe died at the young age of 37, but remained a role model for several decades. Marilyn Monroe was a fashion icon who represented love, beauty and femininity. The Greek goddess Aphrodite was the goddess of sexual love and beauty. When Marilyn Monroe was alive, she symbolized sex more. The Greek goddess Aphrodite is said to have had several lovers. Even today, many people believe that Marilyn Monroe also had many different sexual partners. Both Aphrodite and Marilyn Monroe were adored and admired by men of all ages, all over the world. Aphrodite and Marilyn Monroe are both known as incredibly beautiful women who remain iconic even today. Both have different symbols that make them unique and distinguish them from other women and/or goddesses. Marilyn Monroe was known for many things, including: platinum blonde hair, ocean blue eyes, cherry red lipstick, and her angelic white dress. She is well known for her hourglass figure which has become a standard for the beauty community even today. Marilyn had a more or less young life and used her appearance as a way to get back on her feet. She used her looks, her body and her seduction as a way to give men what they wanted in the hope that they would then give her what she needed, namely love, respect and security. Marilyn loved being admired by men because it gave her a sense of worth, validation and security. Many women were jealous and envied her for the admiration she received from men. Aphrodite was very beautiful, elegant, young and desirable. She was very passionate, unfaithful and sometimes weak. Similar to Marilyn Monroe, Aphrodite also had many symbols. Some of its symbols are the dolphin, the rose, the shell, the mirror, the dove, the sparrow, the swan and the belt. Aphrodite was the epitome of beauty. Aphrodite had a giant shell that took her to the island of Cyprus where she began her reign. The symbol of the rose is what represents beauty. The pomegranate represented the loss of female virginity and was a symbol of sex. Aphrodite's skin was said to be whiter than ivory, which many men loved and admired. The belt possessed by Aphrodite had the power to inspire passionate love. Just like all human beings, Marilyn Monroe and Aphrodite probably had their fair share of imperfections. Because of their confidence and self-image, these flaws were often overlooked. Both women embraced their imperfections and acknowledged their flaws. They lived their lives without regrets. They both knew that beauty came from within, which is why they became such a powerful image of beauty. Both women have constructed many different images and standards of beauty that are still very relevant in today's world. Self-image and approval is still something women crave from men and women today. If another woman is jealous, they often become envious and try to tear someone down based on appearance instead of building each other up. Women are still often degraded by the number of sexual partners they have;.