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| Birth Of Aphrodite Statue (Venus) |
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| 11 inches tall, 5 inches wide, 4 inches deep |
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Aphrodite is the famous 'Goddess of Love'. Equated with Venus by the Romans, she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione (a freshwater Nymph, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys). Another myth relates the tale of the castration Ouranos (Roman Uranus) at the hands of his son Chronos (Roman Saturn), and how his severed genitals were cast into the sea which engendered Aphrodite.
She is often depicted in myth as having an ambivalent female nature which combines seductive charm, physical beauty, the drive to procreate, and a certain capacity for deception and intrigue. Also called Cypris (the Cyprian) by the Greeks, the cult of her origin was thought to have been out of the east near Cyprus.
Aphrodite is a Goddess not of love in a modern romantic sense, but rather love as attraction, seduction and desire in an unabashed pagan way. She presides over sexuality and reproduction, the very thing necessary for the continuity of a community or civilization. Often young women made sacrifice to Aphrodite before their wedding ceremonies, so that their first sexual experience would be fruitful. In this sense there is an obvious connection in the imagery of the bountiful vegetation and fruits of the earth with the voluptuousness of Aphrodite.
Aphrodite's titles included Hetaira (courtesan) and Porne (prostitute) and she was considered a protectress by women in those professions who relied on seduction for their vocation.
Aphrodite was worshipped by men for a safe voyage over the seas, and by magistrates and officials for her capacity to bring civic harmony and civility.
High quality white marble resin statue. 11 inches tall, 5 inches wide and 4 inches deep. |
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| STA071 |
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