Aphrodite by Monica S. Cyrino;

Author:Monica S. Cyrino; [Cyrino, Monica S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781136615917
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Unlimited)
Published: 2022-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Figure 4.3 Aphrodite of Knidos. Roman copy after Praxiteles, ca. 350 bc. The Art Archive/Museo Nazionale Palazzo Altemps Rome/Gianni Dagli Orti. The motif of nakedness in the iconography of Aphrodite finds expression in ancient Greek art as well, but many questions remain as to when, where and how nudity becomes a discernible physical attribute of the goddess. Scholars continue to speculate about widespread and abundant archaeological evidence suggesting a so-called “Nude Goddess” archetype existed starting from the late Bronze Age (ca. 1100 bc) throughout the Mediterranean area in numerous representations: for example, Minoan, Cycladic and Mycenaean Greek types (Böhm 1990); Syrian and Phoenician-influenced Cypriot versions (Budin 2003); and Near Eastern varieties (Moorey 2004). The “Nude Goddess” is typically a naked female figure standing rigidly upright and facing forward; her arms are upraised, often holding flowers or other objects, or cupping a breast with one hand; the figure's rounded breasts and genital triangle are regularly emphasized; the figure is often shown wearing jewelry, such as necklaces, bracelets and anklets; and sometimes she is accompanied by birds or lions. Whether any of these ancient images can be associated with or identified as Aphrodite is, not surprisingly, the source of much debate: some scholars automatically identify any nude figure as the Greek goddess of sex, while others justifiably argue that just because a female figure is naked does not necessarily indicate she must be Aphrodite. Yet the “Nude Goddess” type did have an unmistakable influence on early Greek art: starting in the ninth and eighth centuries bc, the image was repeatedly reproduced in both decorative and religious contexts, especially in the minor arts, such as clay plaques, bronze mirrors and metallic jewelry. Scholars note that from the eighth to the sixth centuries bc, small terracotta figurines showing a fully naked female figure were in wide distribution in the eastern Mediterranean (Havelock 1995), but the image of the “Nude Goddess” appears to become much less popular after the sixth century bc. Since Greek artists did not portray their major female deities in the nude during this period, it is unlikely that these figurines represent the goddess Aphrodite, or any other Greek goddess for that matter. Rather, the naked images may simply respond to an artistic trend during the Archaic period for creating exotic, “oriental”- style female figures. Indeed, it would take the passing of a couple more centuries, and the transition to a different cultural, social and artistic milieu, for the first Greek goddess to be depicted fully nude. She was, of course, Aphrodite, the embodiment of divine female beauty.

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