Where Is Venus Callipyge? See It at This Museum

Ancient Roman Venus Callipyge ('Venus of the Beautiful Buttocks') is a Roman marble of a partially draped woman looking back over her shoulder at her own backside. The name comes from the Greek words kallos (beauty) and pyge (buttocks). She's at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples.

The sculpture is probably a 1st or 2nd century CE Roman copy of a lost Hellenistic original. The figure lifts her peplos to reveal herself in a gesture that's been interpreted as both playful and erotic. The pose inspired countless later works, from Baroque paintings to modern photography.

At the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, Italy. It was originally part of the Farnese collection and moved to Naples in the 18th century.

It's Greek for 'beautiful buttocks' (kallos + pyge). The figure looks back over her shoulder at her own backside while lifting her garment. The name was given much later. The original Greek or Roman title is unknown.

Ancient Roman the name comes from the Greek words kallos (beauty) and pyge (buttocks). She's at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples.

Venus Callipyge

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