As the daughter of the sky god Uranos and due to her birth from the sea, Aphrodite is cosmically connected with the elements air (= sky) and water (= sea). But it also has an earth-bound aspect. Hesiod reports that the grass begins to sprout under their steps.
In ancient times, artists tried to portray all of these ideas in different ways. The companion animal of Aphrodite, the goose, comes into play particularly in the representation of the element air. Many vase pictures and round sculptures in terracotta show Aphrodite riding a goose or standing flying through the air.
This terracotta group shows the goddess speaking to her winged geese. (AVS)
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