A GREEK TERRACOTTA GROUP OF APHRODITE AND EROS

This group reputedly comes from Myrina. For a similar group of Aphrodite carrying Eros from Sicily see R. A. Higgins, Greek Terracottas, London, 1967, p. 125, no 6, pl. 59D. These groups represent the popular game of Ephedrismos, in which a player carried another on her shoulders as a forfeit. It was a game that was particularly popular with girls and young woman; a stone was thrown on the ground and the players would take it in turns throwing pebbles to try and knock the stone over. The loser had to cover their eyes and carry the winner on her back until she found and touched the original stone. Representations of Aphrodite and Eros playing the game would be consistent with the fact that this game had connections to the young girls being betrothed to be married.