Greek Statues - Venus De Milo

Greek Statues - Venus De Milo

The Aphrodite of Milos, better known as the Venus de Milo, is an ancient Greek statue and one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture. It is believed to depict Aphrodite (called Venus by the Romans), the Greek goddess of love and beauty. It is a marble sculpture, slightly larger than life size at 203 cm (80 inches) high. Its arms and original plinth have been lost. From an inscription on its now-lost plinth, it is thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch; it was earlier mistakenly attributed to the master sculptor Praxiteles. It is at present on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The statue dates to about 130–90 BCE. Despite this relatively late date, its composition is a mixture of earlier styles from the Classical period of Greek sculpture. The statue is a variation on an older theme of the half nude Aphrodite originally shown admiring her reflection inside the reflective inner surface of Ares' shield while it is balanced on her raised left knee.

The Capuan Venus.It is not known exactly what aspect of Venus the statue originally depicted. It is generally thought to have been a representation of Venus Victrix (Aphrodite Victorious) holding the golden apple presented to her by Paris of Troy. Two fragments of a left arm and a left hand with an apple were found near the statue in the same niche and are thought to be remnants of its arms. After the statue was found, numerous attempts were made to reconstruct its pose, though it was never restored.

Hand painted cold cast resin. Measures: 11" High