Type 33: Eros with Aphrodite Anadyomene

The classic type of Aphrodite Anadyomene represents the naked goddess, who has just emerged from the sea, pressing the water from her outstretched hair—here (left), a magnificent though unfortunately headless statue in Rome. 

Eros attending the Anadyomene is found on coins of Bithynium-Claudiopolis (perhaps), Caesareia Germanica and Prusa ad Olympum in Bithynia; Bagis in Lydia; and Laodiceia ad Lycum in Phrygia.

Some of the coins are really more of a “semi-Anadyomene”, where the goddess uses just one hand for her hair (right, a mosaic that shows a slightly more domestic version of Aphrodite’s toilette).

All the coins are extremely rare.

 

 

 

Mark Fox makes an interesting point about this type of Aphrodite Anadyomene accompanied by Eros or Erotes. If Eros was her son, what is he already doing here at her birth from the waves? Eros was originally a primordial deity, but he indeed became Aphrodite’s son in later tradition.

 

However, images in ancient art are not always strictly synchronic, i.e., they may contain elements belonging to different stages of the story.

 

Tt could even be that the Anadyomene type is a re-enactment of the birth of the goddess rather than a depiction of the original event. Aphrodite would wring out her hair every time after bathing, not just after her first emergence from the sea. There are several other “bathtime” motifs of Aphrodite with attendant Erotes on the coins, such as the crouching Aphrodite by Doidalsas (Type 35) or the type of Aphrodite adjusting her sandal (Type 36). 

 

Another explanation would be that the presence of Eros is symbolic, drawing attention to qualities and functions for which the goddess would later be known.

* Bithynium-Claudiopolis in Bithynia, an uncertain coin of Julia Domna reported by Waddington from Mionnet, though “non revue”.

* Caesareia Germanica in Bithynia, a coin of Geta as Augustus (not illustrated). There are similar coins of Diadumenian (Waddington, Recueil général, 24, and in trade) without a clearly discernible Eros.

* Prusa ad Olympum in Bithynia, a coin of Geta as Augustus (not illustrated), with a hippocamp r. behind Aphrodite.

* Bagis in Lydia, coins of Caracalla (not illustrated) and Geta. Aphrodite has her r. hand to her hair, and is holding out her l. with an apple; three Erotes are playing at her feet.



Æ 27, as described above (Illustration from Bernhart).

 





* Laodiceia ad Lycum in Phrygia, coins of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius as Caesar (not illustrated), or with head of Demos as obverse type (not illustrated), all with Aphrodite standing between Eros and a dolphin.

 

25.89 g. Obv. AY[.....A]ΔPIANOC ANTΩNINOC. Laureate head r. Rev. Π KΛ ATTAΛOC ANEΘHKE ΛAOΔIKEΩN. Aphrodite Anadyomene standing facing, head r., Eros on the l., a dolphin on the r. (Photos courtesy of Münzen und Medaillen GmbH).

 

 

* Finally, here is an Anadyomene attended by Eros  on a lead seal, Late Roman, c. 250-350, from Western Asia Minor.

CATALOGUE

Bithynium-Claudiopolis / Julia Domna [?]

Reference: Waddington, Recueil général, p.273, footnote 2 
Rarity: RRR (if genuine)

Caesareia Germanica / Geta
Reference: Bernhart, Aphrodite, 275
Rarity: RRR

Prusa ad Olympum / Geta 
References: Waddington, Recueil général, 115; Bernhart, Aphrodite, 285
Rarity: RRR

Bagis / Caracalla
Reference: SNG Leypold 914 
Rarity: RRR

Bagis / Geta
References: Bernhart, Aphrodite, 277; SNG von Aulock 8219 
Rarity: RRR

Laodiceia ad Lycum / Demos
Reference: RPC IV, 2, 2135*
Rarity: RRR

Laodiceia ad Lycum / Antoninus Pius
Reference: RPC IV, 2, 11598*
Rarity: RRR

Laodiceia ad Lycum / Marcus Aurelius
Reference: RPC IV, 2, 2092*
Rarity: RRR