Terracotta Sculpture of Aphrodite on a Goose
Terracotta Sculpture of Aphrodite on a Goose
Cyprus, 3rd–2nd Century BC, Hellenistic Period
This terracotta figure depicts Aphrodite seated on a goose, navigating stylized waves. Her head and torso face forward while her legs, draped in a himation, are lifted with both hands. Crafted from light orange clay with a white wash and blue accents for the waves, the piece exemplifies Hellenistic attention to naturalistic movement and playful mythological imagery.
Aphrodite was the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, desire, and fertility. One of the twelve Olympian deities, she was believed to have been born either from the sea foam near Cyprus or as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, depending on the myth. Aphrodite played an important role in Greek religion and mythology, often depicted as enchanting and irresistibly beautiful.
She was associated with passion and attraction, but also with the complexities of love and jealousy. Among her most famous myths are her marriage to Hephaestus, her love affairs with Ares and Adonis, and her role in sparking the Trojan War through the Judgment of Paris. The Romans later identified her with Venus, continuing her legacy as one of the most enduring figures of classical mythology.
