Crouching Aphrodite
Front Side
2015-00-00
Name/Title
Crouching AphroditeEntry/Object ID
85H0447Description
This statue depicts a plump and somewhat seductive Aphrodite in a crouching position. Her head is missing, as are both of her arms. Her left arm is missing from the middle of her upper arm, and her right arm is gone at the shoulder. In the middle of her back is a small hand that belongs to another figure. The statue is beige in color.Type of Sculpture
StatueArtwork Details
Medium
PlasterContext
Original of marble was found near Vienne in 1830. The marble statue was a Roman copy of the bronze original by Diodalsas of Bithynia. Aphrodite is in a crouching position, possibly in the middle of bathing. The hand that was placed in the middle of her back could be that of Eros, who flew by and was holding her mirror. It is thought that the inclusion of Eros was added to later versions of this style of Aphrodite, and not on the Greek originals. It has also been suggested that the position could represents Aphrodite rising from the sea, rather than bathing. This Aphrodite is a descendent of the Classical Greek Aphrodite of Knidos, which is considered the first nude statue of a female goddess. It is thought that this style was intentionally made to be very sexual, where the position of crouching made it less direct. The Crouching Aphrodite shows a plumper figure, and portrays more fluid movement. This is consistent with Hellenistic sculpture, focused on movement and emotion. The statue shows how the depiction of Aphrodite developed in this period. It is thought that it reflects the change in women’s status, having more freedom and autonomy, as well as the male’s changing views of women. It would also reflect the way the people of the time imagined Aphrodite, and the ideal beauty, to look. Changing from a slim, soft figure, to a plump, voluptuous one.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Doidalsas of BithyniaRole
SculptorDate made
175 BCE - 100 BCETime Period
HellenisticPlace
Institution
De la Reunion des musees nationaux located in Paris, FranceEthnography
Culture/Tribe
Greek - Hellenistic