Ashmolean Museum to Trace Aphrodite's 5,000-Year Legacy in Major Autumn Exhibition
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is set to unveil a significant autumn exhibition titled 'The Making of a Goddess,' which delves into the lasting representation of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess associated with love and beauty. This exhibition will chart her evolution from her initial roots in the eastern Mediterranean, through the realms of ancient Greece and Rome, to modern interpretations in art and fashion. Featuring a mix of archaeology, sculpture, painting, contemporary art, and fashion, it will highlight how both Aphrodite and her Roman equivalent, Venus, have symbolized beauty and desire in Western culture for thousands of years. Notable pieces include those inspired by Botticelli, who captured her with one of the most iconic faces in art history. The exhibition emphasizes the goddess's incredible resilience, as her image has persisted for 5,000 years, outlasting the civilizations that first revered her.
Key facts
- The Ashmolean Museum announces a major autumn exhibition on Aphrodite.
- The exhibition is titled 'The Making of a Goddess'.
- It explores Aphrodite's journey from ancient Cyprus to the present day.
- The show includes archaeology, sculpture, painting, contemporary art, and fashion.
- Aphrodite's image has lasted for 5,000 years.
- Botticelli immortalized Aphrodite with a recognizable face in art history.
- Aphrodite and Venus are symbols of beauty and desire in Western culture.
- The exhibition traces her origins in the eastern Mediterranean and through Greek and Roman worlds.
Entities
Artists
- Botticelli
Institutions
- Ashmolean Museum
Locations
- Oxford
- United Kingdom
- Cyprus