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Venus
In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, sex, beauty, and fertility. She was the Roman counterpart to the Greek goddess Aphrodite. However, Roman Venus had many abilities beyond the Greek Aphrodite; she was a goddess of victory...

Definition
Venus Figurine
The term Venus figurine is used to describe the more than 200 small statuettes of voluptuous female figures that have been found at Upper Paleolithic sites across Europe and some parts of Asia. “When paleoanthropologists refer to figurines...

Article
Disarming Aphrodite: Rediscovering the Venus de Milo
The so-called Vénus de Milo is perhaps one of the most iconic works of Western art of any period. The statue of the goddess was found on the Aegean island of Milos, to which she owes her name, on the eve of the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830...

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Temple of Venus and Roma, Rome
The Temple of Venus and Rome (Templum Veneris et Romae) is thought to have been the largest temple in Ancient Rome. The architect was the emperor Hadrian and construction began in 121 CE. It was officially inaugurated by Hadrian in 135 CE...

Video
Temple of Venus & Rome - Ancient Rome Live
The colossal Temple of Venus and Rome was one of Rome's largest imperial temples. It essentially enveloped the Velia Hill, next to the Palatine and overlooking the Colosseum valley. Hadrian constructed this temple dedicated to two deities...

Definition
Psyche
Psyche was the goddess of the soul in ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Born a mortal woman, her beauty rivaled that of Aphrodite (Venus) and inspired the love of Aphrodite's son, Eros, god of desire. After completing a series of seemingly...

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Reconstructions of the Venus of Milos
The reconstruction of the Venus of Milos as proposed by Ravaisson (1890 CE) of the Venus of Milos together with the Borghese Mars (left); an older presentation in the Louvre (1855-1875 CE) with a plinth identifying the statue as “Venus Victrix”...

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The Venus of Laussel
The Venus of Laussel, carved between 20,000 and 18,000 years ago, is a rare example of a pre-historic bas-relief. Her faceless, voluptuous figure is characteristic of the Venus figurines produced throughout Ice Age Europe. Many scholars believe...

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Temple of Venus, Baalbek
Temple of the goddess Venus in the Baalbek temple complex, Lebanon, early 3rd century CE.

Definition
Temple
A temple (from the Latin templum) is a structure usually built for the purpose of, and always dedicated to, religious or spiritual activities including prayer, meditation, sacrifice and worship. The templum was a sacred precinct defined by...