According to Hesiod’s Theogony, Aphrodite was born from the seed of Uranus, the divine father whose genitals were cut off by his son Cronus and thrown into sea. Fermenting with the tides, a “white foam arose from the immortal flesh; with it a girl grew,” begetting Aphrodite—a full- grown woman, nubile and infinitely desirable. Fearing the jealousies that would invariably arise amongst the gods competing for her favor, Zeus cast Aphrodite to the fiery, volcanic abode of Hephaestus where she was betrothed to the deformed god of smithing. To placate his glamorous wife, Hephaestus forged marvelous jewelry that made Aphrodite even more irresistible to the hearts of men. Despite the assiduous efforts of her faithful husband, the divine seductress carried on legendary affairs with Ares, Adonis, and Anchises, the latter begetting a son, Aeneas—the Trojan hero and mythic founder of Rome. Vain, glamorous, and sadistically jealous, Aphrodite endures in Western tradition as the very avatar of beauty, elucidating the mystery of sex that was for the Greeks as perplexing as it is today.

What remains of this magnificent representation from the 1st century B.C. is a marble torso measuring just over seven inches high; though deprived of head and limb, little imagination is required to envision the lost remains of this glorious statue. Though modest in proportion, this superb relic of ancient artistry survives as a memory and testament to the Hellenic mythology so imbued in the cultural traditions of the West. With her sensuous curves and soft, gentle form, the ancient sculptor has achieved a truly remarkable feat through brilliant, polished marble—that eternal stone so emblematic of the classical age. From her youthful breasts to the delicate features running down her spine, this profoundly beautiful creation captures the eroticism and mystery befitting the goddess of love—an enviable treasure every bit as relevant today as it once was for its ancient adorer.