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mini bronze turtle-dove, symbol of Aphrodite, goddess of love
£25.00
A delightful miniature, representing both Aphrodite, and Demeter, goddess of the fertility of the earth. A perfect and symbolic token gift for someone you love. Height: 4cm
Length: 5.5cm
Width: 2cm
Read more below about:
the significance of the turtle-dove
It's All Greek's bronze collection
quantity
about the turtle-dove
Turtle-doves, which the Greeks call 'peristeri', were, in Greek mythology, the birds of love, sacred to the goddess Aphrodite. Doves were said to draw her heavenly chariot, and her seven daughters, the Pleiades, are known as the 'flock of doves'.
The bird was also sacred to Demeter, the goddess of the fertility of the earth.
There is also our familiar reference to the dove with an olive branch, representing Eirene, the Greek goddess of peace and harmony.
Way before Aphrodite's time, birds—specifically doves—were popular and significant motifs in Cycladic sculpture ca 2700–2300 BCE. Just like the minimalist, abstract human figurines, these stylised birds were sculpted from local white marble, with no facial features, wings, beaks or claws. It seems likely that to these inhabitants of the Cyclades, the dove was a symbol of fertility, life, and rebirth. In subsequent centuries, the dove became permanently associated with Aphrodite.
about the bronzes in this collection
Hephaistos would be amazed by the craftsmanship and quality of this wonderful collection!
These superb bronze pieces are cast in Greece using the traditional lost wax method. As nothing is mass-produced, there will inevitably be slight variations in texture, patina, and colour. No two pieces are ever the same. If mounted, the base is of black marble.
Please note that there may be a variation of some millimetres in the dimensions of the base from time to time, and that accessories such as spears, tridents or javelins may vary in length or height! If you need precise dimensions and weight, email me!
If you need a piece to fit a very specific space, or if you want me to take a photo of a couple of pieces so you can pick the one you want, I will do so with pleasure.
Every piece is deliciously tactile.
It's All Greek is so grateful and so proud to have been working closely with the Semitekolo family foundry since 1999. It has been a privilege and a joy to handle, live with, to photograph and describe these gorgeous pieces, before passing them on to passionate and grateful customers all over the world.
If you already own one of these pieces, cherish it!