One of the rarest exhibits in the collection of the Odessa Archaeological Museum is a bone statuette of Aphrodite floating on a shell with Eros. A figurine is carved from the horn of a red deer. Aphrodite is depicted in full growth, with a naked torso, in her right hand she holds the steering wheel, which holds a miniature figure of Eros. In Greek cities, the cult of Aphrodite was quite popular. She was considered the patroness of love and beauty, a sea goddess who helped sailors, shipbuilders and merchants, and was revered as the protector of Greek poleis. The image of the baby Eros is associated with the cult of Aphrodite, who was considered her son, who was her constant companion and assistant. Such a plot composition emphasized the main function of Aphrodite and Eros - patronage of lovers, and love was perceived as the joy of life and the birth of a new one. Such miniature sculptures were intended for the privacy and religious needs of the city’s population and the choir.
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