Aphrodite of the Gardens

Aphrodite of the Gardens (Ancient Greek: Ἀφροδίτη ἐν κήποις, romanized: Aphrodítē en kḗpois) is an epithet of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The epithet describes her patronage over vegetation and garden fertility.^[2]

A Roman copy of a statue thought to be a reproduction of the Aphrodite of the Gardens by Alcamenes, Musée du Louvre.^[1]

Venus (Aphrodite), Roman statue (marble) copy of Greek original, 2nd century AD (original 5th c. BC), Naples Archeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale)

According to Pausanias,^[3] there was a sanctuary of Aphrodite of the Gardens near the Ilisos river, holding a famous cult statue of Aphrodite by Alcamenes and a herm of Aphrodite near the temple. It is unsure whether the statue of Aphrodite and the herm of Aphrodite were the same sculpture or two separate sculptures.^[4]

The herm of Aphrodite may be linked to the later mythological character, Hermaphroditos.^[5][6] There are numerous references to a male aspect of Aphrodite, called Aphroditos, which was imported to Athens from Cyprus in the late 5th century BC and also a temple of Hermaphroditos was spoken of by Alciphron at Athens.^[7]

See also

• Aphrodite Urania
• Aphrodite of Knidos