Aphrodite Areia Golden Victory Cameo

Aphrodite Areia features an often forgotten aspect of the love goddess -- Aphrodite the Warlike. This epithet depicted Aphrodite clad in armor similar to Ares. It ties into the goddess' connection to Middle eastern goddesses such as the Sumerian Inanna, Mesopotamian Ishtar and Phoenician Astarte. There are several representations of Aphrodite the Warlike under different names. Aphrodite Encheios is Aphrodite with a spear, while more common epithets like Aphrodite Ourania -- Aphrodite the Heavenly -- would also show her in martial regalia. Aphrodite Areia represents the thorny aspect of the rose. She is cloaked in irresistible beauty, but also has surrounded herself in a blanket of bramble thorns. In no way is Aphrodite a helpless damsel in distress. She takes her destiny in her own hands and demands the respect that she deserves. The love she displays is not just lust, but also celestial love of body and soul and the idea of self love and confidence. Our Golden Victory statues features