The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek sculpture depicting Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Her Roman counterpart is Venus, which is why the statue is popularly known by its Roman name rather than as the Aphrodite of Melos.
The marble figure was discovered on the island of Milos in 1820 and has been displayed at the Louvre in Paris since 1821. It was carved from Parian marble during the Hellenistic period, probably sometime between 160 and 110 BC, and stands more than two metres tall.
Both arms are missing, leaving uncertainty about her original pose. A hand holding an apple was found near the statue, supporting the theory that she may have been shown holding the apple of discord. Some alternative identifications have been proposed, but Aphrodite remains the standard answer accepted by museums, historians, and quizmasters.