Venus de Milo
Unknown (attributed Alexandros of Antioch) · c. 130–100 BC
Parian marble
Quick answer
Venus de Milo (c. 130–100 BC) by Unknown (attributed Alexandros of Antioch) is in The Louvre, Paris. The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek marble sculpture, created sometime between 130 and 100 BC, depicting the goddess Aphrodite (Venus in Roman mythology). It was discovered on the island of Milos (Melos) in the Aegean Sea in 1820 and acquired by France shortly after. The sculpture is displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Its arms are missing — lost at some point after antiquity — and their original position and what they held remains a matter of scholarly debate. World Museum Guide explains what you're looking at and how to see it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Venus de Milo?
The Venus de Milo is displayed in Salle 346 on the ground floor of the Denon Wing of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Follow signs from any entrance — it is one of the Louvre's three most visited works, alongside the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Why does the Venus de Milo have no arms?
The arms were already missing when the sculpture was found in 1820. They were lost at some point in the approximately 2,000 years between its creation and its discovery. Some fragments found at the same excavation site may have been parts of the arms, but they were separated from the main sculpture and are now lost. What the arms held — an apple, a mirror, a shield — remains one of the most debated questions in classical archaeology.
Who made the Venus de Milo?
The artist is most likely Alexandros of Antioch, based on a now-lost inscription from the base of the statue that was recorded before it was discarded. French authorities reportedly removed the inscription because its Hellenistic dating (130–100 BC) was less prestigious than the Classical period (450–323 BC) and might have reduced the sculpture's apparent value. 'Alexandros of Antioch' was previously completely unknown — the Venus de Milo is the only work attributed to him.
How old is the Venus de Milo?
The Venus de Milo was created sometime between approximately 130 and 100 BC — making it roughly 2,100 to 2,150 years old. It dates to the Hellenistic period of ancient Greek art, a time of sophisticated naturalism and emotional expressiveness in sculpture.
Is the Venus de Milo Aphrodite or Venus?
She is most likely Aphrodite — the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and desire. 'Venus' is her Roman equivalent. The sculpture was found on the Greek island of Milos, in an area with ancient connections to Aphrodite worship. She is identified as Aphrodite/Venus by her semi-nudity, her contrapposto pose, and her resemblance to other ancient depictions of the goddess. Some scholars have alternatively proposed she is Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, patron of the island of Milos.