THE APHRODITE OF MELOS (VENUS DE MILO)
Artist August Gerber (cast maker) Köln
Date early 20th century (plaster cast), ca. 100 BC (original)
Object type plaster cast Medium, technique plaster
Dimensions 218 × 70 × 62 cm Inventory number Ag.276
Collection Classical Antiquites - Plaster casts
On view Star Fortress (Komárom), Aphrodite/Venus and Nike – the Classical Greek ideal of the young female figure, Corridor B
The boldness of the composition befits the goddess of love. The upper body is nude; she is only covered from the waist down as if her mantle could fall to the ground any minute. One missing arm probably held an apple to show that Paris, the prince of Troy, judged her to be the winner of the goddesses’ beauty contest. This is perhaps the most famous statue of Aphrodite–Venus, although it is not certainly her representation. It could also depict the sea goddess Amphitrite, the wife of Poseidon, who was worshipped in the area where the statue was found.
References
Hekler, Antal, Az antik gipszgyüjtemény I-II., Budapest, 1919-1920, 1923, no. no. 386.
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