Aphrodite of the Gardens

A Roman copy of a statue thought to be a reproduction of the Aphrodite of the Gardens by Alcamenes, Musée du Louvre.[1]

Aphrodite of the Gardens (Ancient Greek: ἐν κήποις en kí̱pois) is an epithet of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The epithet describes her patronage over vegetation and garden fertility.[2]

According to Pausanias, there was a sanctuary of Aphrodite ἐν κήποις at the Acropolis of Athens. It was said to have held a cult statue of Aphrodite by Alcamenes and a herm of Aphrodite near the temple. It is unsure whether the statue of Aphrodite and the herm of Aphrodite were the same sculpture or two separate sculptures.[3]

The herm of Aphrodite may be linked to the later mythological character, Hermaphroditos.[4][5] There are numerous references to a male aspect of Aphrodite, called Aphroditos, which was imported to Athens from Cyprus in the late 5th century BC and also a temple of Hermaphroditos was spoken of by Alciphron at Athens.[6]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Leaning Aphrodite known as Aphrodite of the Gardens". The Macao Museum of Art.
  2. ↑ Elisabeth B. MacDougall (1981). Ancient Roman Gardens. Dumbarton Oaks. p. 24. ISBN 0-88402-100-9.
  3. ↑ Arthur Bernard Cook (1925). Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion. Cambridge University Press. p. 171.
  4. ↑ Yulia Ustinova (1999). The Supreme Gods of the Bosporan Kingdom. Brill. p. 38. ISBN 90-04-11231-6.
  5. ↑ Simon Goldhill (2006). Rethinking Revolutions through Ancient Greece. Cambridge University Press. p. 63.
  6. ↑ Alciphron. literally and completely translated from the Greek, with introduction and notes. Athenian Society. p. 142.

References

External links

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