Ancient Roman Bronze Bust of the Young Eros or Cupid

Period: 100 BC-100BC

Origin: Roman empire

Medium: Bronze, silver

Literature: This bust of the youthful god of love, son of Venus, has eyes inlaid of silver and the holes for the pupils probably once held points of glass or ivory. Venus was commonly called the ‘lover of laughter’ and was depicted naked accompanied by Eros, her god of desire. Her cult held all that physical love was sacred and that nothing was more beautiful than the nude body. The Romans worshipped her and Cupid as divine until her cult was suppressed by the Emperor Constantine.