Aphrodite of Knidos

A detailed Summary of Aphrodite of Knidos

The boldest undertaking by the sculptor Praxiteles c. 350-340bc., is Aphrodite of

Knidos as opposed to Apollo Saraktonos. It was original and daring, breaking free from

the traditional Polykleitan model. Aphrodite of Knidos in the nude is incredibly sensual

and erotic. Praxiteles captures Aphrodite in a private moment just before bath and her

expressional face shows her reaction to being caught. The statue is fresh, a new and sexy

style that inspires and influences many. Praxiteles is bold by using a nude female as a

religious icon and giving it pathos instead of the typical ethos.

The statues of Praxiteles' age and before were of the Polykeitan model, a

traditional contapposto figure of a nude male athlete. Praxiteles' shocking nude Aphrodite

of Knidos changes the art from Doryphoros canon structured model, to a relaxed feminine

one. A nude Aphrodite was a bold move as she was the first female nude in religious art.

He humanizes the goddess and she is seen completely naked, and intruded upon.

Aphrodite looks dreamy with her dewy eyes that gaze out to see who has walked

in on her naked. Her eyes gazes softly out, looking out in a distance. The expression is

radiant instead of shock, or horror li

their sexy wet draped bodies are close to comparison but they are not as beautiful as the

dissimilarities. A major difference are their stances. Both stand contrapposto, but

Couples would come worship her by having sex in her temple not because of their ethos

classical pathos statues, Aphrodite by far is more important. Her nudity is perhaps the

should, and does look different from the traditional ethos of a heroic nude male.

ethos since love is not about civic virtue. Love is an individual feeling therefore Aphrodite

nude Aphrodite of Knidos. Her role as the goddess of love does not need emphasis of

of Polykleitos gives attention to detail such as individual hair strands. Aphrodite's optical

interesting comparison to Aphrodite because of their different similarities and

barely covers her genitals. By doing so, it has an opposite effect to the eyes drawing them

having ethos which would reflect a ethical and noble citizen, Aphrodite is a pathos

the classical. There is a greater emphasis on a person's pathos rather than a citizen's

accomplishes this eye candy through subjective optical style. Her form appears through

goddess. This new and bold break from citizen ethos to individual pathos was shocking

Some common words found in the essay are:
Aphrodite Knidos, Knidos Panhellenic, Polykleitos's Doryphoros, Apollo Aphrodite, Polykleitos Doryphoros, Apollo Saraktonos, Praxciteles' Parthenon, aphrodite knidos, Apollo Sauroktonos, nude male, nude aphrodite, goddess love, nude female religious, female religious, religious icon, pathos instead, stands relaxed, nude female, classical pathos, nude aphrodite knidos, female religious icon,

Approximate Word count = 891
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts

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