Terracotta disk with Aphrodite riding on a goose

4th century BCE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171

The goose, a domesticated bird since Homeric times, was known in antiquity for keeping watch, having a voracious appetite, and requiring little care. While Aphrodite may be connected with other birds, she is more commonly associated with the swan than the goose. Geese were sacred birds of the Roman gods Juno, Mars Thincsus (a Germanic god of war), and Priapus.

Artwork Details

Overview

References

Title: Terracotta disk with Aphrodite riding on a goose
Period: Late Classical
Date: 4th century BCE
Culture: Greek
Medium: Terracotta
Dimensions: D. 2 3/4 in. (6.9 cm.)
Classification: Terracottas
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1910
Object Number: 10.210.129
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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