Various
Omnia Amor Vincit et nos cedamus amori! The Avatars of bygone loves
Text: Mihaela Simion, Mihaela Cătălina Neagu, Ionuț Bocan, Decebal Vleja
In the collections of the National Museum of Romanian History are kept numerous representations of the Goddess of Love, dating from the Greek and Hellenistic periods, but also from the Roman one. Most of them were discovered through archaeological researches in antique settlements on the territory of Romania, but an important number of pieces entered the museum collections through donations or acquisitions or as part of private collections taken over by the museum.
One of the most spectacular representation is that known in scholarly literature as Venus from Potaissa, discovered in 1893 at Potaissa, nowadays Turda in Cluj County.
From the multitude of representations of the God of Love found in the collections of the National Museum of Romanian History nine were chosen, each connected to a specific hypostasis. Like the representations of the Goddess Venus, the iconographic hypostases of Eros/ Cupid come from archaeological researches, casual discoveries, purchases, donations, 19th and 20th century private collections.
Dancing Eros. Terracotta statue, 17 cm high, depicting Eros as a young man dancing, with his wings wide open.
An Eros applique. Ceramic applique, 10.80 cm high, depicting a teenager Eros wearing a tunic that only covers his left arm.
Pugilist Eros/Cupid. A unique representation of the God of Love. He has boxing gloves (caesti) easily observed on the back of the right hand and inside the left palm.
Child Eros/Cupid. Bronze statue of the god depicted as a nude, winged child.
Medallion of Eros and Psyche. Fragmentary ceramic medallion with a depiction of Eros and Psyche in a passionate embrace.
A gem – Eros burning a butterfly. Psyche (the soul) is often symbolized by a butterfly. This iconographic motif had a strong resonance in the Roman world, being also used in love spells.
Fragmentary ceramic plaque. It has a depiction of a funerary Eros.
Funerary altar, 90 cm high. It has a funerary depiction of Eros.
Cupid from Alburnus Maior – the Guide from Roşia Montană. Amber statue discovered in an incineration tomb from Roşia Montană, Alba County. It is an exceptional artistic representation, of a very accurate and exquisite execution.
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