Venus de Milo

Venus de Milo

Venus de Milo, also known as the Aphrodite of Milos, is a marble sculpture of the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. In 1820, a farmer discovered the Venus de Milo on the island of Milos and tried to keep the statue for himself, but was spotted by a Turkish officer. The French ambassador to Turkey at the time purchased it and eventually had it displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Standing 203 centimeters tall, the Venus de Milo is made from two blocks of marble joined together at the point where the nude torso meets the drapery — a seamless and ingenious join that makes it appear as if carved from a single piece. Rather than striving for intricate detail, the sculpture employs a simple and refined artistic approach. From any angle, it exudes a unified and unique beauty. Despite its missing arms, the calm expression, dignified posture, draped legs, and visible toes all contribute to an overwhelming sense of wholeness and perfection. So much so that later sculptors, after attempting to recreate the missing arms in various replicas, lamented that their efforts only resulted in gilding the lily.

Since its discovery, the Venus de Milo has been widely regarded as the most beautiful of all Greek female statues and has become synonymous with the celebration of feminine beauty. Over the years, countless praises have been bestowed upon her, and almost all other works of figurative art seem to pale in comparison when placed beside her.

Venus de Milo

Must-visit reason: The most beautiful of all Greek female statues

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: France[France]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Île-de-France Region [Ile-de-France Region]

City where the attraction is located: Paris [Paris]