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3.4: Aphrodite of Knidos

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    Aphrodite of Knidos

    6.jpg

    Artist: Praxiteles
    Medium: Marble
    Art Historical Time Period: Late Classical Greek (ca. 350 BCE)

    The Aphrodite of Knidos is a famous statue made by the Greek artist Praxiteles. It shows the goddess Aphrodite getting ready to bathe, and it was one of the first sculptures to show a nude woman. This statue was made for a temple in Knidos, where people came to honor the goddess of love and beauty.
    What made this statue special was its focus on natural beauty and emotion. The relaxed pose and gentle expression made it look lifelike, and its nudity was bold for the time. The statue influenced many later artists, including the Romans, who made copies, and Renaissance artists, who admired its elegance and naturalism. Today, it’s seen as a turning point in how artists portray women in art.

    Vocabulary

    • Naturalism A style of art that makes people and objects look real.

    Student Authors

    • Evan Castellanos ’24 and Courtney Potter ’26

    Citations

    • Neer, Richard T. Greek Art and Archaeology: A New History. Thames & Hudson, 2011.

    • Osborne, Robin. Archaic and Classical Greek Art. Oxford University Press, 1998.

    • Smith, Andrew. Greek Sculpture and the Problem of Description. Cambridge University Press, 2006.

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    3.4: Aphrodite of Knidos is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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