APHRODITE EXHIBITION

APHRODITE

THE MAKING OF A GODDESS
8 Oct 2026 – 11 Apr 2027

APHRODITE

THE MAKING OF A GODDESS
8 Oct 2026 – 11 Apr 2027

APHRODITE

THE MAKING OF A GODDESS
8 Oct 2026 – 11 Apr 2027

Aphrodite exhibition – opens 8 Oct 2026

Step into the world of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and desire – later worshipped by the Romans as Venus.

Today she is thought of as a symbol of passion and beauty, but her story is far older and more complex.

This major exhibition will explore Aphrodite’s beginnings on the island of Cyprus, where she was worshipped as an all-powerful goddess over 3,000 years ago, and will trace her journey through the Greek and into the Roman world, where she became Venus.

The exhibition will reveal how, over the centuries, Aphrodite evolved into an iconic figure symbolising love and beauty as her myths and images flourished – inspiring art, literature, and imagination from the Renaissance to the present day,

Featuring extraordinary objects – from sculpture and bronzes to gems and terracottas from Cyprus, Greece, and Italy, dating back from around 1400 BCE to the 21st century – this exhibition will uncover the making of a goddess whose legacy still shapes our ideas of love and beauty today.

Header images: Crouching Aphrodite or Venus (detail), 100–199 CE, Roman marble after Hellenistic original © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026 | Royal Collection Trust. Photograph: British Museum
Venus (detail) c 1490, by Sandro Botticelli & workshop, tempera on canvas, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie/ photo: Jörg P. Anders; Public Domain Mark 1.0
Venus sailing on a barge (detail), c. 200–250 CE, mosaic from Utica, Tunisia © Musée du Louvre, Dist. GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Luc Maby

White marble statue of a crouching Venus

A beautiful painting of Venus with long flowing hair by Sandro Botticelli (1445–1510) and workshop Venus, dated around.1490, painted in tempera on canvas

Colourful mosaic of Venus sailing the sea on a barge dating to 250-200 CE

Statuette of a black Venus holding a mirror standing on a wooden plinth

Limestone sculpture featuring Aphrodite's head with a building on top from an Astarte sanctuary in Kition-Bamboula, Cyprus, dating back to 600 to 475 BCE

Ancient Greek gold pendant in the shape of Eros riding a dolphin

21 blue venus estate of yves klein courtesy adagp paris 1000px

Bronze figurine of Venus found in Oxfordshire

Installation showing a lifesize marble Venus statue with her back to us and walking into a big mound of colourful rags

Terracotta roof adornment showing the marriage of Venus and Mars in Greek Classical style from Italy

Tall Attic vase showing Aphrodite riding a swan from Cyprus

Ancient Cypriot figurine of a woman in childbirth assisted by two midwives

Black, bronze Venus de Medici statue by William van Tretrode, 1550s

Raphael school drawing of two Aphrodite figures in chalk

Figurine of an ancient chariot quadriga with three armed and helmeted warriors

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Ticket prices

Standard ticket
£16.80 £19.00 with Gift Aid

FREE Entry (but booking is recommended) for

Members & Patrons, Corporate Members *No booking required*
Under 12s
Carers (see 'Disabled visitors & carers' section, below)
University of Oxford students
Pupils with ASH pass
OU GLAM staff
Museum colleagues (OU Ruskin School, ICOM, UK Museums Association, NMDC members)

Proof of eligibility must be presented with your ticket when you visit.

Half-Price tickets available at £8.40 or £9.30 with Gift Aid for:

Art Fund members
Children aged 12–17 years and under 25s
Recipients of Universal Credit
NB Available onsite only at the Museum, not for online booking)

Proof of eligibility must be presented with your ticket when you visit.

Disabled visitors & carers

Disabled visitors should book a regular exhibition ticket at full or concession price, depending on eligibility.

Accompanying carers can access the exhibition for free with a ticket-holding disabled visitor, but should please book one of our free 'Carer' tickets for the same time slot.

BECOME A MEMBER
FOR UNLIMITED FREE ENTRY

Membership gives you unlimited access to exhibitions, as well as members-only previews, exclusive discounts in our our shop, restaurant and café, and much more.

Do I need to book in advance?

No, but booking is recommended to guarantee entry.

Is there an exhibition audio guide?

Yes, a Smartify audio guide is now available to pre-book. It is narrated by Natalie Haynes who is a classicist, broadcaster and bestselling author.

The guide is £5 with a full price ticket. You will be offered the guide on our Ticket store once you've selected your tickets and date.

Members can pre-book the audio guide tour here

The audio guide is £5 for Members and Patrons with free tickets.

We recommend you buy the Smartify audio tour before visiting the exhibition and save it to your smartphone. Please bring your headphones so you can listen to it on your own device as you enjoy the exhibition. But if you forget them, there are some available at the exhibition.

You can also purchase the tour at the exhibition shop or at the exhibition entrance.

Please note, if you're visually impaired the audio guide is free to listen to on your own device. There is no need to pre-book this, the QR code to the self-guided tour can be requested at the exhibition ticket desk on the day of your visit.

Is the exhibition accessible?

Yes. Access to the exhibition is via lift and the entire exhibition is wheelchair accessible. Handheld labels are available.

There is also a level access route from the pavement outside the Museum to the front door. You can read more about Museum access at this link Ashmolean Access Guide

Disabled visitors should book a regular exhibition ticket at full or concession price, depending on eligibility. Accompanying carers can access the exhibition for free with a ticket-holding disabled visitor, but will need to book a free, timed Carer ticket.

I'm a member of the Press and Media, can I request a complimentary exhibition ticket?

For any media enquiries about our exhibitions, please refer to our Press information page.

Can I visit the exhibition free using the NMDC and other museum reciprocal arrangements?

Yes, you can visit our special exhibitions for FREE under the NMDC (National Museum Directors' Council), ICOM (International Council of Museums) and UK Museums Association reciprocal entry schemes.

You will need to bring proof of eligibility (Membership or Staff Card) with you on the day of your visit and present this with your ticket. Pre-booking is recommended.

Please note that these reciprocal tickets are not available to book in advance during the final two weeks of the exhibition. We cannot guarantee free entry for reciprocal status visitors during this time if there is limited capacity and the exhibition is selling out.