Frescoes depicting Aphrodite, Adonis and Ares at the Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy

Aphrodite presents Cupids to Adonis, Pompeii, Casa L. Cornelius Diodumenus

Fresco of Aphrodite presenting Cupids to Adonis, Pompeii, House of L. Cornelius Diodumenus, Archaeological Museum of Naples

Aphrodite and Adonis Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (107 x 91 cm) 45–79 AD

Aphrodite, whose hair is held back by a diadem, is seated on a staircase, half-clad in a pink and blue drape that reveals the beauty of her body, adorned with jewels.

Aphrodite presents a nest occupied by two small winged cupids to the young man sitting with his spears resting on his shoulder, who turns towards her to look at them.

The focus of attention is the love nest presented to the handsome Adonis to keep him there and away from the dangers of hunting.

The four figures surrounding them are witnesses interested in the beauty of this scene, attracted by the sweetness of Love symbolised by the little nest.

Ares and Aphrodite, Pompeii, Casa dell'Amore Punito

Ares and Aphrodite Fresco - Water-based pigments on Coating (154 x 117 cm) 1–25 AD

Standing with his helmet and spear, the god of war Ares pulls aside Aphrodite's clothing to caress her breast as he leans over the back of the richly decorated chair where she is seated.

Here, Aphrodite is fully clothed and her reserved attitude is that of a dignified mistress of the house.

This is in contrast to her usual image, where she is depicted naked or half-naked in voluptuous poses.

Ares and Aphrodite The servant girl crouching and busy tidying up linen is unaware of what is happening behind her back, where passionate love and desire represented by winged love on the right will be born.

This fresco undoubtedly alludes to Greek mythology, in which the beautiful Aphrodite fell in love with Ares, with whom she cheated on her husband Hephaestus, who was ugly but very clever.

Helios saw them and immediately reported the news to Hephaestus, who trapped the two lovers in a net caught in the act and showed them to the gods of Olympus, who burst out laughing.

Love punished by ridicule.

Ares and Aphrodite, Pompeii, House of Meleager

Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (96 x 91 cm) 62–79 AD

Ares and Aphrodite The god of war abandoned his weapons, his helmet and his armour for the love of Aphrodite.

The lovers sit close to each other and show mutual tenderness.

Aphrodite leans gracefully towards Ares, who caresses her breast, while helping him to remove the transparent veil that enveloped her beautiful body.

This gentle fresco depicts the gods as a couple of human beings who get along well.

It is an allegory of harmony.

The Lovers Ares and Aphrodite, Pompeii, Casa di Meleagro

Fresco depicting Ares and Aphrodite, Pompeii, Casa di Meleagro, Archaeological Museum of Naples

Ares and Aphrodite Fresco - Water-based pigments on coating (96 x 91 cm) 62-79 AD

The seated couple is preparing to enjoy the food contained in the containers placed on the pedestal table in front of them.

Ares has delicately placed his hand on Aphrodite's shoulder, who is looking at him, pointing her index finger towards the sky, while reaching out with her other hand towards the food.

Their busts are bare because their clothes have fallen in an elegant drape that modestly covers their hips and lower bodies.

The gentleness and refinement of this scene, which decorated the interior of a house, offered its occupants the harmony of a divine couple seen as an ideal of married life.

Ares and Aphrodite, Pompeii, Casa delle Nozze di Ercole

Ares and Aphrodite Painting - Oil on Canvas (99 x 90 cm) 45–79 AD

This Hellenistic-inspired fresco is remarkable for the expressiveness of the faces and the delicacy of the lovers' gestures.

The goddess of love and pleasure surrenders herself by leaning towards her lover seated behind her, who welcomes her into his arms and helps her to reveal her body, magnificently adorned with jewels.

Ares still has his shoulders covered with a purple cloak, after the cupids have already taken his sword and his helmet.

The warrior's power is attracted and disarmed by love, as symbolised by the spear pointing towards the ground, which bends and traces a diagonal line following the movement of the beautiful woman.

Aphrodite and Ares The large round shield at Aphrodite's feet, the little cherubs on either side of her body and the contrasting colours create a perfect balance of shapes and colours.

Aphrodite and Ares, House of the Meleager, Pompeii