INSPIRED BY A CYPRUS BEAUTY
Inspiring Aphrodite Works of Art
Born from the foamy waters by APHRODITE’S ROCK in Cyprus, the accepted contemporary image of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, has inspired several works of art throughout the ages. As a result, sculptors have used this image of Aphrodite in ancient sculpture, in the most accepted contemporary form, to significantly influence the visual arts of each subsequent era. This was especially apparent across the greater Mediterranean, where this accepted image went on to inspire several ancient sculptors throughout the centuries. This is further enhanced by the fact that this depiction of the goddess also holds the record for the number of statues created using a single image! In light of this, the classical depictions and archaeological discoveries associated with sculptures of Aphrodite feature prominently in art history.
Several Antique Works of Art
Today, there are several examples of antique works of art that have been created in the accepted image of Aphrodite. These adorn some of the greatest museums across the world. One such work, which is exhibited today in the Hermitage Museum, is known as the statue of Venus of Tauride. Like several others, it is said to have been created in the likeness of the original Aphrodite of Knidos statue.
Aphrodite of the Plutonium Inn
The marble head from a sculpture of Aphrodite was uuneartherd separately from a headless sculpture of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, during excavations at the Plutonium Inn, also known as the ‘Gate to Hell’, in the ancient city of Hierapolis in modern-day Turkey in 2013. excavations on October 25th, 2013. This discovery is a notable depiction of Aphrodite that features characteristic Hellenistic facial features, hair styling, and pierced earlobes for earrings.
Venus De Milo
Created by Alexandros of Antioch, the infamous Venus de Milo is a famous ancient Greek marble sculpture of the goddess Aphrodite. Carved during the Hellenistic period, around 150 BC, this piece was unearthed in two main pieces by a farmer named Giorgos Kentrotas on the Greek island of Milos in 1820. Then acquired by Olivier Voutier, this work, which stands approximately 2 metres tall and is famous for its missing arms that were never found, has been displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris since 1821.
Aphrodite of Knidos
The most renowned ancient statue of Aphrodite is known as the Aphrodite of Knidos. The work that was created by the famous ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles around the 4th century BC, is thought to have been a cult statue for the Temple of Aphrodite at Knidos. Although this work has not survived, it is still revered today because Praxiteles is said to have had a hetaera pose nude for the first depiction of the goddess in the accepted image.
The Statue of Venus of Tauride
Discovered near Rome in the first half of the 18th century, the statue of Venus of Tauride is a treasure of antiquity that dates back to the 2nd century. A connoisseur of several works of art, it was acquired by Peter the Great of Russia. It adopted its current name after it was displayed in the Tauride Palace in Saint Petersburg.
The Cyprus Archaeological Museum in Nicosia
The Cyprus Archaeological Museum in Nicosia offers its own sculpture of the goddess in the accepted form. The image of this particular statue also once proudly adorned the Cyprus £20 banknote before the island adopted the Euro.
THE ORIGIN OF APHRODITE
Cyprus is the legendary birthplace and ancient cult centre of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. In light of this, Aphrodite’s origin is traced through a mythological birth story and deep historical connections to Near Eastern deities.
KEY LEGENDS
Aphrodite’s Rock: A dramatic sea stack on the southwest coast of Paphos where legend says Aphrodite rose from the sea foam. Local tradition claims that swimming around the rock three times brings eternal youth and love.
Sanctuary of Aphrodite: Located in the village of Kouklia, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was the primary ancient centre of worship, featuring a conical black stone baetyl rather than a human-form statue.
Baths of Aphrodite: A natural grotto near the Akamas Peninsula where mythology says Aphrodite met her lover Adonis.
The Aphrodite Cultural Route: A designated path connecting major historical and archaeological sites across Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca linked to the worship of Aphrodite.
HISTORICAL & CULTURAL ORIGINS
Near Eastern Roots: Scholars note that Aphrodite is not of indigenous Greek origin, and that an indigenous Cypriot fertility goddess was present on the island long before Achaean Greek settlers arrived in the 12th century BC. Her cult and attributes are thought to have evolved across the island from older Middle Eastern love and war goddesses. These include goddesses such as the Sumerian Inanna, the Akkadian Ishtar, and the Phoenician Astarte. These Achaean Greek settlers are thought to have heavily influenced the legend of Aphrodite after adopting the Cypriot deity. This eventually cemented Cyprus as Aphrodite’s defining mythological home.
Spread to Greece: Traders are then thought to have spread the worship of Aphrodite through notable trade routes at the time. This allowed Aphrodite to be fully integrated into the Greek pantheon.
Hesiod’s Theogony: Aphrodite was born when Cronus castrated his father Uranus and threw his severed genitals into the ocean. White foam formed around them, and Aphrodite emerged full-grown from the sea, drifting to Cyprus on a scallop shell. Her name comes from aphros, the Greek word for ‘foam’.
Homer’s Iliad: An alternative tradition describes Aphrodite as a standard Olympian goddess, the daughter of Zeus and his consort Dione.
Spread to Rome: Aphrodite’s Roman equivalent is the goddess known as Venus.
A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF THE IMAGE OF APHRODITE
THE DEPICTION OF APHRODITE ON THE CYPRUS £20 BANK NOTE
THE FAMOUS STATURE OF VENUS OF TAURIDE
