Minako- Venus. Mi" and "ko" can also be pronounced as "Bi" and "su", making it "Binasu", the Japanese meaning for "Venus". Also note that Minako was named before Naoko started the naming pattern..
Mythology: Aphrodite (in the Roman version, her name is Venus), the Greek goddess of love and beauty - to the Greeks, Aphrodite was a kind but flighty goddess, who ruled over both spiritual and physical love. She was named and thought of as the goddess of love and as a guardian of lovers, but she was also portrayed as being a flighty, lusty, and sometimes shallow goddess. The Romans made Venus a bit more serious than Aphrodite, but she was still basically the same. Like Aphrodite, Minako is flighty, pretty, and sometimes shallow. Aphrodite was portrayed as a lovely goddess with long blond hair and blue eyes (sound familiar?), which, consequently, Minako looks just like.
While several legends of Aphrodite emphasize themes of love and desire, some of most compelling myths deal with the consequences that the goddess herself suffers as a result of being the victim of love. This ties in somewhat in the SuperS series with her (hold it! Spoiler--->) date with both Hawkeye and Tigereye.
Minako's attacks are also based on the goddess... for example her "love me chain" and "love and beauty shock."
Aphrodite's birth is describe that she was born from the foam of the sea. There is also a similar version that she appeared from a shell. In the anime, Sailor Venus is pictured in front of a shell (like to the right).
Aphrodite's most famous love was a mortal. He was called Adonis. Adonis is famous for being the most handsome mortal and the word today is used describe a man who is quite aesthetically pleasing. Adonis was sought after by the Underworld goddess and wife of Hades(Pluto), Persephone (Proserpine). Adonis was killed by her through the jealous Aries so that she would be able to have him in the underworld. Aphrodite was devasted by the loss and tore her hair out and beat her breasts in agony. Finally she made him into a red flower called the chrysantheum from the drops of his blood. He would bloom in the Spring, when he had died.
The story of Adonis ties in with Naoko's earlier manga, Codename: Sailor V in which Sailor V finds she has a savior. His name is Kaitô Ace (Kaitô = bandit or mischievous thief) and instead of throwing roses like Tuxedo Kamen, he throws playing cards. At the very end of the series, Kaitô reveals himself to be Danburite (Minako's main enemy at the time), and Adonis, a soldier from her past life as the princess of Venus. During the Silver Millennium, Adonis served in Earth's army, under General Kunzite. He had been secretly in love with the Princess of Venus, but knew he could never have her when he saw the way his commanding officer and his true love looked at each other. After that, Queen Beryl attacks and everyone's sent to earth.. you know the story. Minako, in the end, was forced to kill him because he was the enemy. Upon his death, he cursed her that she would never find true love, because he couldn't have her. This could also explain why she has such a hard time with guys.
Attacks:
Venus Crescent Beam Smash: Crescent Beam
Venus Meteor Shower: Crescent Beam Shower
Venus Love Chain Encircle: Venus Love Me Chain
Birthday: October 22