Aphrodite of the Gardens

Aphrodite of the Gardens (Ancient Greek: Αφροδίτη εν Κήποις, romanized: Afroditi en Kipis) is an epithet of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The epithet describes her patronage over vegetation and garden fertility.[2]

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

According to Pausanias[3], there was a sanctuary of Aphrodite of the Gardens 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.[4]

The herm of Aphrodite may be linked to the later mythological character, Hermaphroditos.[5][6] 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.[7]

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. Pausanias 1.19.2
  4. Arthur Bernard Cook (1925). Zeus: A Study in Ancient Religion. Cambridge University Press. p. 171.
  5. Yulia Ustinova (1999). The Supreme Gods of the Bosporan Kingdom. Brill. p. 38. ISBN 90-04-11231-6.
  6. Simon Goldhill (2006). Rethinking Revolutions through Ancient Greece. Cambridge University Press. p. 63.
  7. Alciphron. literally and completely translated from the Greek, with introduction and notes. Athenian Society. p. 142.

References
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