Greeks in art
As the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite holds great power over both mortals and immortals. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that she is featured in numerous myths, poems and plays; likewise, there are many representations of Aphrodite in sculpture and painting. Aphrodite remained a popular figure for artists through the ages, continuously being reborn in the latest model of female beauty. While several legends of Aphrodite stress themes of love and desire, some of most gripping myths deal with the consequences that the goddess herself suffers as a result of being the victim of love, some of which have found their way public in the form of art. There are numerous accounts depicting her birth or marriage, other images are simply artists renditions of the goddess herself. Perhaps the most interesting way to look at Aphrodite is to compare the depictions of her over time.Early depictions of Aphrodite were crude in nature, and limited to the artistic technology of the time. Prior to the 4th century BC, she was already seen on archaic era coins and household items. A vase found in 530 BC (left) shows her and the Judgment of Paris. The image it
Artists were inspired by the birth of Aphrodite for centuries. Botticelli's Birth of Venus is considered a masterpiece. However, the myth of the goddess would not stop there. Francois Boucher took a liking to Aphrodite and showed her in his painting The Triumph of Venus (1740). This painting led to a new style called Rococo. When defined, it means light, playful, and elegant- appropriate for Aphrodite. The painting itself shows a playful Aphrodite with her garment draped and body nearly bare. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Aphrodite is the manner in which she was born. Pictured here is Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus (1482). It is a representation of the moment Aphrodite is born and lands at Paphos in Cyprus, and is one of the more recognizable images of her birth. This great painting was inspired by the actual myth of Aphrodite as she appears from the sea. She emerges full grown with her hair flowing due to the slight breeze of the wind god, personified in the painting as Zephyrus, intertwined with Chloris. One of the seasons, also known as the Horae, stands to her left greeting her. All around them fall roses, which, according to myth, came into being at Venus' birth. The general depiction of Aphrodite is clear, and Botticelli creates a rich, vivid image of the goddess of love and beauty. It dates to the early Renaissance and is perhaps the most famous of all Aphrodite images. Some say it has become a model for artists through the centuries because of its ability to capture her image so well. Aphrodite's image was also seen by way of sculpture. The most famous statue of the goddess is the Aphrodite from Melos, better known as the Venus de Milo. Dating from the second-century BC, the head is very simple in both expression and hairstyle. These features give her face an almost masculine expression. Her lack of arms has invited many explanations, but the frontrunner is that they were simply damaged over the years due to wear and tear.
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Approximate Word count = 1616
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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