Statue of Aphrodite Holding a Shield (Venus) 2nd century AD

This statue was found during excavations conducted at Perge in 1981. It was carved from a fine grained white marble. The head of this statue has not been found. She wears a dress that renders her body semi nude. This statue in its posture, dress and body proportions is a Roman period copy of the Milo Aphrodite made in the Hellenistic period. The inscription on the shield that the goddess is holding in her left hand is as follows:"Claudios Peison dedicated this".

Claudios Peison was an artlover and rich citizen who lived in Perge in the early 2nd century AD. Several statues, altars with inscriptions and decorations that were found in a gallery of the South Bath at Perge were commissioned by him. This statue of Aphrodite as well, having its position in this splendid location was dedicated by Claudios Peison to the goddess.

Aphrodite's anger and revenge were terrible. She instigated troublesome love affairs for the goddess of dawn for Eos, Phaidra and Pasiphae. She penalised the women of Lemnos, who didn't worship her sufficiently, to carry around on their persons a smell that even their husbands couldn't stand. She forced Kinyras's daughters to sell themselves to strangers. She offered Paris the love of Helen in exchange for gaining the prize of the golden apple in the beauty competition held between the goddesses and which was judged by Paris. This troublesome love between Paris and Helen caused the famous Troy war. The pigeon and the sparrow, the rose and the myrtle are considered dedicated to the goddess and are her symbols.