Venus Genetrix

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The sculptural depiction of Venus Genetrix showcases the Roman goddess Venus in her maternal aspect, a designation bestowed upon her by the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Rome, who followed Julius Caesar's precedent in claiming her as their ancestral figurehead. As a result of this historical association, a distinctively Roman iconological type of Aphrodite emerged from its Greek origins. The night preceding the pivotal battle at Pharsalus (48 BC), Julius Caesar made a vow to construct a temple at Rome in honor of Venus, his supposed ancestor and patron deity of his gens. To fulfill his promise, he erected a magnificent temple of Venus Genetrix within the newly constructed forum. According to contemporaneous accounts, the cult statue residing within the temple was crafted by a renowned Greek sculptor named Arkesilaos. Two distinct representations of this draped Venus Genetrix type are prominently featured in numerous Roman examples fashioned from marble, bronze, and terra cotta. A second, equally compelling interpretation of the type features Venus cradling an infant Eros on her shoulder.