Isis-Aphrodite figurine

This tiny figurine depicts Isis-Aphrodite, a syncretic deity that was linked to love, beauty, marriage, and childbirth, combining the attributes of the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The goddess is in the anasyromene pose, lifting her robes to show her body to the viewer. In doing so, the goddess wards off evil and becomes a symbol for fertility. Found in a house at Karanis, we might imagine a child bringing this object home for good luck. The figurine is also interesting because it preserves some original color. Here, the goddess’ robes are purple and her crown is pink. These are difficult colors to interpret because both can be created using different pigments and techniques. Multispectral imaging revealed that the pink was created using a rose madder pigment while the purple was the same rose madder combined with a black pigment.

For more information about the figurine’s preserved color and about color in Roman Egypt, please visit Through the Lens: Examining Colorful Objects from Karanis and Investigating Color in Roman Egypt.

The downloadable files are in an .STL format which is optimal for 3D printing. We suggest using a free software such as Meshmixer to edit the file to your needs. Some objects may need supports added or should be hollowed out for the most efficient printing. Any questions about 3D printing should be directed to kelsey.disko.project@umich.edu.

Download STL

Touch Controls

Orbit: swiping on mobile or click and drag with a mouse.

Panning: two-finger touch, or dragging with right-click.

Zoom:  pinching on a mobile device or the scroll wheel on a mouse.

Keyboard Controls

Orbit: Up, Down, Left and Right arrows.

Panning: Hold the Shift key and use the Up, Down, Left and Right arrows.

Zoom:  currently not implemented.