Venus and Adonis - Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, UK - Epic Beings and Creatures on Waymarking.com

Located in a group of four statues in the south parterre this iconic statue is a Grade II Listed feature. It was listed on 10th January 1985.

The statue dates to approximately 1730 and is a lead design painted white and stands on a Portland Stone, ashlar plinth dating to the 19th century.

Venus sits with the putto (naked infant), or in this case Cupid, behind her. Adonis is leaving her with his hunting dog and spear. The myth is that when playing with her boy, Cupid, she wounded herself with one of his arrows. Whilst wounded she looked at Adonis and from that moment fell in love with him, hence the Cupid's arrow myth in itself.

Venus followed Adonis everywhere and was entirely doted to him. She went hunting with him but warned him of the dangers. Once she had duly warned him she left but Adonis continued to hunt, his own worst enemy, he wounded but did not kill a wild boar. It turned on him, gave chase and killed Adonis. Venus heard his cries and returned to him, she changed his blood into a flower and Anemones became known to exist.

Time Period: Ancient Approximate Date of Epic Period: c. 900-800 BC onwards Epic Type: Mythical Exhibit Type: Figure, Statue, 3D Art

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Date Logged Log   09/25/2010 bill&ben visited it