ONA
Description
In Saint Seiya: Soul of Gold, Aphrodite des Poissons is one of the twelve Gold Saints who are mysteriously resurrected in the realm of Asgard. His background as the guardian of the Pisces Temple, the final house of the Sanctuary's twelve temples, defines his identity. Known as the most beautiful among the 88 Saints, he serves the goddess Athena, though his past actions show a complex loyalty to the Sanctuary under the rule of the false Pope Saga, whom he supported out of a belief that power is justice. In this series, his resurrection is tied to the greater conflict against the god Loki and the God Warriors of Asgard.
Aphrodite's personality in Soul of Gold retains his core traits from the original story. He is portrayed as a low-key and direct individual, a skilled warrior who strictly follows his own convictions. His guiding philosophy remains that strength equates to justice, yet he demonstrates a notable shift away from blind allegiance to authority. He is not motivated by cruelty but by a pragmatic understanding of power. In this series, his actions are driven by a sense of duty towards his fellow Gold Saints and a quiet determination to fulfill his role in the plan to defeat Loki. He shows a willingness to operate independently and make personal sacrifices for the greater good, revealing a more heroic dimension to his character.
In the story of Soul of Gold, Aphrodite plays a crucial, though initially subtle, role. Early on, he senses that something is wrong in Asgard and suspects the town hospital is being used for nefarious purposes. There, he confronts the God Warrior Fafnir, who has been using humans to create Odin Sapphires. During this battle, Aphrodite demonstrates his resourcefulness by using his Royal Demon Roses to infiltrate Fafnir's nervous system, extracting vital information on how to bypass the barrier of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. He telepathically transmits this information to Mu of Aries before being captured by the roots of the World Tree. His most significant contribution, however, occurs after his capture. As the first Gold Saint to be absorbed, he uses his unique affinity with plants to resist the World Tree's absorption process. He puts himself into a state of suspended animation and, using his power, extends this protection to the other captured Gold Saints, preserving their lives until they can be freed for the final battle against Loki. He reappears in the final episode, donning the Pisces God Cloth to join the other eleven Gold Saints in a united attack that defeats the evil god.
Aphrodite's key relationships in this series are primarily with his fellow Gold Saints. He shares a notable camaraderie with Deathmask of Cancer, who is depicted as a friend and comrade. Together, they are among the few Gold Saints who had knowledge of the former Pope's deception, and this shared past creates a bond between them. His relationship with the Bronze Saint Shun is also indirectly significant; though not directly interacting in Soul of Gold, his past defeat at Shun's hands and his subsequent resurrection inform his character as a warrior who recognizes and respects exceptional power. His actions are also driven by a desire to protect Athena, the goddess he serves, and to honor the memory of his fallen comrades.
The development of Aphrodite in Soul of Gold presents a significant evolution from his earlier villainous portrayal. While he was once an antagonist who supported a corrupt pope, here he is unequivocally a hero. He no longer fights for the sake of a powerful ruler but for the preservation of his allies and the world. His sacrifice to save the other Gold Saints by placing them in suspended animation is a selfless act that redeems his character, showcasing loyalty and cunning that serve a noble purpose. He proves that his belief in power as justice has matured into a willingness to use his formidable strength for protection and strategic advantage, rather than for subjugation.
Regarding his notable abilities, Aphrodite fights by imbuing his cosmos into various roses, each with a distinct function. His Royal Demon Rose is a red rose carrying a deadly poison that can cause an enemy to lose their senses and die painlessly. In Soul of Gold, he uses this technique with greater precision, piercing an enemy's torso to access their central nervous system and extract information directly from their mind. The Piranha Rose is a black rose with the power to destroy anything it touches, capable of reducing even a strengthened Bronze Cloth to dust. His strongest technique is the Bloody Rose, a white rose that seeks the opponent's heart and drains their blood, turning red only when the target is dead. Beyond these attacks, Aphrodite possesses a unique ability to communicate with plants and a natural immunity to plant-based toxins, which is a trait common to the Pisces Saints. It is this specific ability that allows him to survive the absorption of the World Tree and protect his fellow Gold Saints by placing them in a state of apparent death while keeping them alive.
Aphrodite's personality in Soul of Gold retains his core traits from the original story. He is portrayed as a low-key and direct individual, a skilled warrior who strictly follows his own convictions. His guiding philosophy remains that strength equates to justice, yet he demonstrates a notable shift away from blind allegiance to authority. He is not motivated by cruelty but by a pragmatic understanding of power. In this series, his actions are driven by a sense of duty towards his fellow Gold Saints and a quiet determination to fulfill his role in the plan to defeat Loki. He shows a willingness to operate independently and make personal sacrifices for the greater good, revealing a more heroic dimension to his character.
In the story of Soul of Gold, Aphrodite plays a crucial, though initially subtle, role. Early on, he senses that something is wrong in Asgard and suspects the town hospital is being used for nefarious purposes. There, he confronts the God Warrior Fafnir, who has been using humans to create Odin Sapphires. During this battle, Aphrodite demonstrates his resourcefulness by using his Royal Demon Roses to infiltrate Fafnir's nervous system, extracting vital information on how to bypass the barrier of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. He telepathically transmits this information to Mu of Aries before being captured by the roots of the World Tree. His most significant contribution, however, occurs after his capture. As the first Gold Saint to be absorbed, he uses his unique affinity with plants to resist the World Tree's absorption process. He puts himself into a state of suspended animation and, using his power, extends this protection to the other captured Gold Saints, preserving their lives until they can be freed for the final battle against Loki. He reappears in the final episode, donning the Pisces God Cloth to join the other eleven Gold Saints in a united attack that defeats the evil god.
Aphrodite's key relationships in this series are primarily with his fellow Gold Saints. He shares a notable camaraderie with Deathmask of Cancer, who is depicted as a friend and comrade. Together, they are among the few Gold Saints who had knowledge of the former Pope's deception, and this shared past creates a bond between them. His relationship with the Bronze Saint Shun is also indirectly significant; though not directly interacting in Soul of Gold, his past defeat at Shun's hands and his subsequent resurrection inform his character as a warrior who recognizes and respects exceptional power. His actions are also driven by a desire to protect Athena, the goddess he serves, and to honor the memory of his fallen comrades.
The development of Aphrodite in Soul of Gold presents a significant evolution from his earlier villainous portrayal. While he was once an antagonist who supported a corrupt pope, here he is unequivocally a hero. He no longer fights for the sake of a powerful ruler but for the preservation of his allies and the world. His sacrifice to save the other Gold Saints by placing them in suspended animation is a selfless act that redeems his character, showcasing loyalty and cunning that serve a noble purpose. He proves that his belief in power as justice has matured into a willingness to use his formidable strength for protection and strategic advantage, rather than for subjugation.
Regarding his notable abilities, Aphrodite fights by imbuing his cosmos into various roses, each with a distinct function. His Royal Demon Rose is a red rose carrying a deadly poison that can cause an enemy to lose their senses and die painlessly. In Soul of Gold, he uses this technique with greater precision, piercing an enemy's torso to access their central nervous system and extract information directly from their mind. The Piranha Rose is a black rose with the power to destroy anything it touches, capable of reducing even a strengthened Bronze Cloth to dust. His strongest technique is the Bloody Rose, a white rose that seeks the opponent's heart and drains their blood, turning red only when the target is dead. Beyond these attacks, Aphrodite possesses a unique ability to communicate with plants and a natural immunity to plant-based toxins, which is a trait common to the Pisces Saints. It is this specific ability that allows him to survive the absorption of the World Tree and protect his fellow Gold Saints by placing them in a state of apparent death while keeping them alive.