DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7897#0051
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PLATE XIII.
This singular and elegant composition (i) represents Venus supported by
two Loves or Cupids , who convey her through the air. The goddess holds in
one hand a mirror, her usual attribute (2), and in the other, a cup or patera
(3), intended to receive the offerings presented by her votaries. Her dress
consists in a Doric tunic, over which a light mantle is gracefully thrown;
she wears sandals on her feet; and a sort of diadem (ampyx), enriched with
white ornaments , encircles her head.
The two figures who support her are androgynous; the form of their limbs,
their features, head-dress, and ornaments on the arms and legs (4), are those
of females. With one hand they support the goddess, and in the other, hold
a basket (5) called talaros, usually carried by women, and intended to contain
various objects for their use. The ornament underneath, which imitates the
undulation of the waves, is probably intended to indicate the sea (6) over
which Venus is conveyed.
A wreath and two fillets or girdles (7) suspended on the wall, are offer-
ings consecrated to the goddess of beauty.
(1) From a vase in the collection of M. Du-
rand, at Paris.
Venus is represented seated in a chariot
drawn hy two androgynous figures like the
present, in a painting published by Tischbein,
torn. iv. pi. 26. The same subject appears on
the coins of the Julian family, who pretended
to descend from Venus. Morell. Thes. Famil.
Julia, tab. I-fig- 4-
(2) KuTrpi; Se Siauyea yctky.bv eloiaa,
n<-j)JXaxi Tav auTav Si; [«teGws jctfuav.
Callimachus. Hymn in Pall. vers. 21 — 22.
Athen;eus, lib. xv. pag. 687. Anthologia,
lib. vi. cap. 8. Philostratus, Icones, lib. 1.,
cap. 6. See Plates X & XII.
(3) <I>i(&a.
(4) Ilepicxe)iiSe;.
(5) In ancient Greek monuments a similar
basket is often seen in the hands of women;
and served to contain various objects for their
use. Sometimes the talaros, though it retained
the form of a basket, was of gold. Europa
and her attendants, are described as gathering
flowers in similar baskets; that of the princess
was of gold, and the work of Vulcan; it was
richly ornamented with bas-reliefs, and had
been given by Neptune to Lybia as the price
of her favours. Moschus. Rapt. Europ. v. 62.
(6) On the coins of Tarentum, the sea is
indicated by a similar ornament. Hunter,
tab. 55. n° 15 & 20.
(7) The girdle or cestus of Venus was cele-
brated for its property of imparting beauty
and every charm to the wearer. Homer. Iliad.
2, vers. 214-
Hence the girdle became a peculiar attribute
of Venus , and was among the offerings pre-
sented by her votaries.
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PLATE XIII.
This singular and elegant composition (i) represents Venus supported by
two Loves or Cupids , who convey her through the air. The goddess holds in
one hand a mirror, her usual attribute (2), and in the other, a cup or patera
(3), intended to receive the offerings presented by her votaries. Her dress
consists in a Doric tunic, over which a light mantle is gracefully thrown;
she wears sandals on her feet; and a sort of diadem (ampyx), enriched with
white ornaments , encircles her head.
The two figures who support her are androgynous; the form of their limbs,
their features, head-dress, and ornaments on the arms and legs (4), are those
of females. With one hand they support the goddess, and in the other, hold
a basket (5) called talaros, usually carried by women, and intended to contain
various objects for their use. The ornament underneath, which imitates the
undulation of the waves, is probably intended to indicate the sea (6) over
which Venus is conveyed.
A wreath and two fillets or girdles (7) suspended on the wall, are offer-
ings consecrated to the goddess of beauty.
(1) From a vase in the collection of M. Du-
rand, at Paris.
Venus is represented seated in a chariot
drawn hy two androgynous figures like the
present, in a painting published by Tischbein,
torn. iv. pi. 26. The same subject appears on
the coins of the Julian family, who pretended
to descend from Venus. Morell. Thes. Famil.
Julia, tab. I-fig- 4-
(2) KuTrpi; Se Siauyea yctky.bv eloiaa,
n<-j)JXaxi Tav auTav Si; [«teGws jctfuav.
Callimachus. Hymn in Pall. vers. 21 — 22.
Athen;eus, lib. xv. pag. 687. Anthologia,
lib. vi. cap. 8. Philostratus, Icones, lib. 1.,
cap. 6. See Plates X & XII.
(3) <I>i(&a.
(4) Ilepicxe)iiSe;.
(5) In ancient Greek monuments a similar
basket is often seen in the hands of women;
and served to contain various objects for their
use. Sometimes the talaros, though it retained
the form of a basket, was of gold. Europa
and her attendants, are described as gathering
flowers in similar baskets; that of the princess
was of gold, and the work of Vulcan; it was
richly ornamented with bas-reliefs, and had
been given by Neptune to Lybia as the price
of her favours. Moschus. Rapt. Europ. v. 62.
(6) On the coins of Tarentum, the sea is
indicated by a similar ornament. Hunter,
tab. 55. n° 15 & 20.
(7) The girdle or cestus of Venus was cele-
brated for its property of imparting beauty
and every charm to the wearer. Homer. Iliad.
2, vers. 214-
Hence the girdle became a peculiar attribute
of Venus , and was among the offerings pre-
sented by her votaries.
5