Aphrodite, Goddess of Love
Aphrodite, Goddess of Love

Movie spotlight

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love

1958
Movie
100 min
Italian

The construction of great temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, followed by new and high taxes and the arrival of a plague, create discontent in the population, and threatens the love between a sculptor and a slave.

Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Director: Mario CostaGenres: Fantasy, Romance

Plot Summary

In ancient Greece, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, becomes jealous of the love between a mortal prince and a beautiful princess. To test their devotion, she devises a series of challenges and trials for the lovers, hoping to break them apart. As the prince and princess navigate these divine obstacles, their love is put to the ultimate test, forcing them to prove the strength of their bond against the will of a powerful goddess.

Critical Reception

This peplum film, also known as 'La Venere di Cheronea' in its original Italian, received mixed reviews upon its release. While praised for its visual spectacle and historical setting by some, critics often pointed to a somewhat predictable plot and less-than-stellar acting performances. It was generally seen as a typical example of the sword-and-sandal genre of its era, with limited lasting impact.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually appealing with impressive costumes and sets typical of the era's historical epics.

  • The storyline is often considered formulaic and lacks significant depth.

  • Performances are generally seen as adequate but not particularly memorable.

Google audience: Audience reception for this film is difficult to gauge through modern platforms. However, historical context suggests it was viewed as a standard mythological adventure, appreciated for its spectacle but not critically lauded.

Fun Fact

The film was an Italian-French co-production and was released in Italy as 'La Venere di Cheronea', meaning 'The Venus of Cheronea', referring to a famous ancient Greek statue.

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CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Roman Emperor Nero has recently visited Corinth and left "Antigono" (Ivo Garrani) in charge. He is determined to build a magnificent temple to Aphrodite and to pay for this he must tax and enslave some of his people - and that earns him the...