The Satala Aphrodite
Bronze, h. 38.10 x w. 29 x d. 26.5 cm, 1st century BC
British Museum, London

A colossal fragment from the 1st century BC, the Satala Aphrodite was originally part of a full statue likely depicting either the Greek goddess Aphrodite or her Armenian counterpart Anahita (or Anahita in the guise of Aphrodite or Artemis). It was said that the rest of the body was also excavated and taken to a secret location, but it has never been located. The face boasts delicate features framed by intricately braided locks. Almond-shaped eyes, once inlaid with precious stones or glass paste, gaze from beneath arched brows. The thin-walled casting of the bronze suggests skilled Hellenistic craftsmanship. During excavation, the top of the head was damaged. Despite the statue's incomplete state, it remains a testament of the artistic prowess of the ancient world. The bronze was purchased by the museum in 1873.