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The Aphrodite of Knidos (or Cnidus) was an Ancient Greek sculpture of the goddess Aphrodite created by Praxiteles of Athens around the 4th century BC. It was one of the first life-sized representations of the nude female form in Greek history, displaying an alternative idea to male heroic nudity.
Jan 13, 2022 · Learn about the famous Greek sculpture of Aphrodite, a naked goddess of love, created by Praxiteles in the 4th century BC. Discover the original, the copies, the temple, the reactions and the legends surrounding this masterpiece of classical art.
- ( Head of Content, Editor, Art Writer )
- 4th Century BC
- 205 cm
- Praxiteles
A Roman marble copy of a famous Greek sculpture by Praxiteles, depicting the goddess of love in the nude. Learn about the history, function, and condition of this ancient art object on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.
The “Aphrodite of Knidos” is the most famous of Praxiteles’ works, and perhaps one of the most famous sculptures of Classical Greece. Contemporaries such as Pliny lauded the sculpture as “superior to all works, not only of Praxiteles, but indeed in the whole world.”
The Aphrodite of Knidos is credited with being the first life-size female nude. Such was her novelty that the city of Kos on Crete is supposed to have rejected her in favour of a clothed version. The Knidians in Asia Minor were more daring and installed her in a round temple (tholos), where she became something of a celebrity.
A late Hellenistic bronze sculpture inspired by Praxiteles' famous Aphrodite of Knidos, a nude goddess standing on a pedestal. Learn about the history, style, and variations of this iconic work of art and see it on view at The Met Fifth Avenue.
Learn about the famous nude statue of Aphrodite by Praxiteles, a Greek sculptor of the Hellenistic period. Explore how the statue influenced later Roman and Renaissance art and culture.
