![]() A poet certainly can also be a talented sculptor. The name "Alexandros, son of Menides" resurfaced as winner of a poetry competition. ![]() Although it might be by the same workshop or even the same artist that created the Venus de Milo, few people pay attention to this statue. Poseidon, today in the National Museum of Athens. Was it because the curators of the time were unable to admit the statue wasn't as old as they thought? Therefore that Venus wasn't created by the great master they dreamt of? And that the dilemma was solved by 'misplacing' the inconvenient evidence?Īnd if she is Amphitrite, then a comparable marble statue, of similar size and manufacture was later found. Is it the signature of an unknown artist named "Alexandros, son of Menides, from Antioch"? Could it be the base of the Venus de Milo, or something meant for another statue? In particular, a signed plinth, inscribed " …andros son of …enides citizen of …ioch at Meander made". There is a lot of confusion about missing limbs, a foot, a hand holding an apple. Thus her name is likely to be "Aphrodite of Melos", or "Amphitrite of Melos". Aphrodite being Venus to the Romans, a Greek statue ended with a Roman name.Īnother possibility is that she might be Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, wife of Poseidon. And beauty, of course, being the most handsome among divinities. Since she is a goddess, which one could she be? Being half-naked, probably Aphrodite, the goddess of love, pleasure and fertility. The divine serenity that emanates from her idealized face is that of an immortal being. Her body might be that of a woman, but unlike us, gods are immortal. The best materials are used for gods, solid gold and elephant ivory, gilded bronze, or fine marble. If the gods had the same appearance than humans, how does one know if a sculpture depicts a divine or human figure? Size, gods are depicted taller than humans, and the Venus de Milo is larger-than-life, at 6 ft 6. Hercules and Achilles were born the union between gods and mortals. To the point that gods and mortals could even love each other, and have children. In ancient Greece, the gods took human form. ![]() But, to state the obvious, this is the body of a half-naked woman. The features that would have helped identify her, held in her arms, are lost. Milo only is the name of the Greek island where the discovery took place. Olivier Voutier joined the fight for Greek independence and became Colonel in the Greek army. The Venus de Milo sailed towards France, was presented to King Louis XVIII, who offered it to the Louvre museum. After two days of arguments and negotiations, the situation was resolved, and Yorgos received his payment. When the French returned to complete the purchase, Venus was about to be loaded on a ship bound for Constantinople. The modern, independent Greek state only came to be in 1828. The statue would be gifted to an Ottoman official in Constantinople, as the island was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the meantime, the shepherd received another offer. While they referred to their superiors, Yorgos, who needed stones for his wall, waited for his reward. A deal was agreed upon, but none of the French officials on the island had enough money or authority to complete the purchase. Yorgos, the shepherd, offered the French consul, who spoke fluent Greek, to buy the statue. The rest of the story gets confusing, with a dozen people playing a part in the acquisition. The opinion that it was a very fine statue prevailed, and further search in the cavity revealed carved pillars and various marble fragments. Others, on the contrary, say that it is a very fine piece of work". "Some of the officers who have observed it say that it is 'not that much'. The first exhibition of the Venus of Milo took place in a barn. Yorgos carted the upper part of the statue to his cowshed, where French officers came to see it. Who has seen the Venus de Milo can imagine my amazement!" I urged my man to look for the other part. Nevertheless, at first glance, one recognizes a remarkable piece. It had no arms, the nose and the knot of the hair were broken, it was horribly dirtied. With a tip of a few piasters, I made it instead come out. He had just uncovered the upper part of a statue in poor condition and, as it could not be used for its construction, was going to cover it with rubble. Seeing him stop and look carefully at the bottom of his hole, I approached. "Twenty steps away from us, a peasant was pulling stones from the ruins of a small chapel buried by the rising ground.
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