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3.5: Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Melos)

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    359622
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    Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Melos)

    8.jpg

    Artist: Unknown
    Medium: Marble
    Art Historical Time Period: Hellenistic Greek (ca. 150–125 BCE)

    The Venus de Milo, also known as the Aphrodite of Melos, is a statue of the goddess Aphrodite, associated with love and beauty. It was found on the Greek island of Melos and is believed to have been made to honor the goddess or to decorate a temple. The statue shows a graceful and elegant figure, even though her arms are missing today.
    What makes the Venus de Milo special is its combination of Classical and Hellenistic styles. The calm and balanced pose comes from Classical art, while the flowing drapery and soft details are typical of the Hellenistic period. This mix influenced later artists in the Renaissance and beyond, who admired its beauty and timelessness. Today, it is one of the most famous sculptures in the Louvre Museum.

    Vocabulary

    • Hellenistic A period of Greek history that emphasized emotion and drama in art.
    • Drapery The way fabric is shown in art.

    Student Authors

    • Raphael Ducheine ’25 and Amanda Dorado ‘26

    Citations

    • Boardman, John. Greek Sculpture: The Hellenistic Period. Thames & Hudson, 1995.

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

    • Stewart, Andrew. Art in the Hellenistic World. Cambridge University Press, 2014.

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    3.5: Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Melos) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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