Venus de Milo

Venus de Milo
Ἀφροδίτη τῆς Μήλου
Venus de Milo on display at the Louvre
MediumParian marble
SubjectAphrodite (Venus)
ConditionArms broken off; otherwise intact
LocationLouvre, Paris

The Venus de Milo (/də ˈml, də ˈml/ MY-loh, də MEE-loh; Ancient Greek: Ἀφροδίτη τῆς Μήλου, romanizedAphrodítē tēs Mḗlou) or Aphrodite of Melos is an ancient Greek marble sculpture that was created during the Hellenistic period. Its exact dating is uncertain, but the modern consensus places it in the 2nd century BC, perhaps between 160 and 110 BC. It was rediscovered in 1820 on the island of Milos, Greece, and has been displayed at the Louvre Museum since 1821. Since the statue's discovery, it had become one of the most famous works of ancient Greek sculpture in the world.

The Venus de Milo is believed to depict Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, whose Roman counterpart was Venus. Made of Parian marble, the statue is larger than life size, standing over 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high. The statue is missing both arms. On the basis of a now-lost inscription found near the sculpture, it has been attributed to Alexandros from Antioch on the Maeander, though the name on the inscription is uncertain and its connection to the Venus is disputed. The original pose of the sculpture is unknown. It was originally identified as depicting Aphrodite holding the apple of discord as a marble hand holding an apple was found alongside the Venus; recent scientific analysis supports the identification of this hand as part of the sculpture.

The Venus de Milo rapidly became a cornerstone of the Louvre's antiquities collection in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, and its fame spread through distribution in photographs and three-dimensional copies. The statue inspired over 70 poems, influenced 19th-century art and the Surrealist movement in the early 20th century, and has been featured in various modern artistic projects, including film and advertising. In contrast to the popular appreciation of the sculpture, scholars have been more critical since it was dated to the Hellenistic rather than classical period, preferring to study classical sculptures mentioned in ancient written sources.