Statuette of Artemis Ephesia

Lady of animals and nature, cosmic divinity and fecundity, Artemis is the ancient goddess who embodies these functions. In the city of Ephesus there was one of the most important cults, of such remote origin as to be attributed to the Amazons. The statuette is part of a group of numerous Roman copies of the original, a cult statue of the Ephesian temple. The multiple functions of the goddess are shown in the ornament of the surcoat. Around the neck a wreath of flowers and a necklace of acorns frame a scene of winged Victories in relief. Below, a series of numerous breasts evokes the role of Artemis as the goddess of fertility, while the presence on the dress of animals such as deer, griffins, dogs, lions, cattle and horses, and as many on the arms, recalls her role as a lady. some animals. We know this iconography of Artemis from Hellenism, thanks to coins of the II-I century. BC and from the Augustan period.In the Giustiniani Collection the statuette was identified as Mother Nature and was placed on a base decorated with animals.