Venus
Venus is the classical Roman goddess of love, often equated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite. She was considered to have been the mother of Cupid. Sexual desire came under her dominion, and so did matters "of the flesh" generally, so that she was the patroness of hunting. The term "venereal" derives from her name. Her name was once a common euphemism for sexual matters in general (for example "The arts of Venus" meant "sexual skills", as well as abilities at attraction and seduction).
Venus in spanking art[edit]
A number of classical painters portrayed Aphrodite spanking Eros (Greek version), or Venus spanking Cupid (Roman version).
Venus in Furs (original title: Venus im Pelz) is a famous BDSM novel by Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch (1836-1895), the author whose name was later used to coin the term masochism.
Aphrodite spanking Eros, mosaic in Hippolytus Hall, Madaba, Jordan.
Venus giving Cupid a spanking, etching from the end of the 16th century.
A variant of the same.
"Venus Punishing Profane Love, from the Lascivie" by Agostino Carracci (Italian artist, 1557-1602).
Venus chastises Cupid (18th century, unknown artist).
Venus brings the rod down to Earth. 18th century engraving.
Venus chastises her brother Mars, whose spear is broken, with her hair.
Here, Venus is bound to a tree while Cupid is punished by Minerva:
Venus bound to a tree and Cupid punished by Minerva.
Venus as a spankee is rare. Here are two examples with a role reversal:
"La fessée" (The spanking) by François Boucher.
Illustration by Goupil from En Virginie (1901).
