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Venus de Milo

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The Venus de Milo is a famous ancient Greek sculpture.

Joseph Warlencourt - L'ancienne salle du Tibre
Joseph Warlencourt - L'ancienne salle du Tibre

Most people believe it shows Aphrodite, the goddess of love. She is shown with a bare torso and cloth over her lower body. The statue is made of white Parian marble. It is larger than a real person. Many people love it because it is very beautiful and artful. It is a major part of the Louvre Museum's collection in France.

The Connoisseur MET DT637
The Connoisseur MET DT637

Looking closely, you can see many interesting details. The figure stands with her weight on her right leg. Her left leg is raised slightly. Her head turns toward the left side. The statue is missing both arms and her left foot. You can also see that her earlobes are gone. There is a hole below her right breast. This hole once held a metal piece to support an arm. The skin of the statue feels smooth and polished. However, you can still see marks from the tools used to carve it.

A Greek farmer found the statue in 1820. This happened on the island of Milos. A French sailor named Olivier Voutier helped the farmer dig. They found two large pieces and one smaller piece. They also found a hand holding an apple nearby. Some people think this means the goddess was holding an apple. Two inscriptions were also found near the statue. One might name the artist, but the writing is now lost. The French bought the statue and moved it to France in 1821.

Experts have many ideas about when it was made. Most agree it comes from the Hellenistic period. This was likely between 160 and 110 BC. Some scholars used to think it was much older. A man named Adolf Furtwängler argued it was from this later time. An old inscription might name the sculptor as Alexandros. He would have been from a place called Antioch on the Maeander. However, people still argue about if that name belongs to this statue.

The Venus de Milo is a very important piece of history. It combines two styles of Greek art. The small eyes and mouth are in the Classical style. The shape of her body is in the Hellenistic style. This statue has inspired many people over the years. It has been the subject of over 70 poems. It also influenced the Surrealist art movement in the 1900s. Today, you can see her in films and even in advertisements.

Joan Crawford as Venus de Milo
Joan Crawford as Venus de Milo
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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Joseph Warlencourt - L'ancienne salle du Tibre.jpg
Joseph Warlencourt - L'ancienne salle du Tibre.jpg
File:The Connoisseur MET DT637.jpg
The Connoisseur MET DT637.jpg
File:Joan Crawford as Venus de Milo.jpg
Joan Crawford as Venus de Milo.jpg
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