Aphrodite 

Aphrodite is one of the most popular Greek goddesses whose origin links to several other mythological female deities from the ancient world, including Astarte, Ishtar, Eos, and Isis. Her Roman counterpart was of course Venus, and both were associated with love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. According to legend, Aphrodite arose from sea-foam as a fully grown adult in all her beauty. (I won't go into the details of where the sea-foam came from...) Classical artists almost invariably depicted her in the nude, and any representation of Aphrodite can be generally interpreted as the female ideal of that era (or at least from the artist's perspective). This work is the first of a set of three Aphrodite/Venus/Isis pieces I began sculpting during a record heat wave which is kind of appropriate since nothing can make the temperature rise as the raw beauty of the female form. My thanks again to the Ceramic Art Studio and Shop.

 

Aphrodite

 

Aphrodite

Unfortunately a stress crack formed down the center during glaze firing. She also acquired a couple of beauty marks on her left hip and side of breast from glaze bubbles.

 

Aphrodite

 

Aphrodite

 

Aphrodite

 

Aphrodite

 

Aphrodite

Moonlight shot

 

Aphrodite

 

Aphrodite

Wet clay model