Bettany Hughes on the Roman goddess Venus.

This event will take place at the British Library. It will be simultaneously live streamed on the British Library platform. Tickets may be booked either to attend in person (physical), or to watch on our platform (online) either live or within 48 hours on catch up. Viewing links will be sent out shortly before the event.

The online version of this event will be live captioned.

In her 2005 debut Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore, Bettany Hughes traced almost three millennia of changing attitudes to women as reflected in the face that launched a thousand ships.

Now she turns her attention to the Roman goddess Venus, looking at her relationship to her Greek twin Aphrodite, as well as Cypriot spirits of fertility and even the war goddess Ishtar.

Through ancient art, myth, philosophy and more, Professor Hughes demonstrates why this immortal goddess has endured to the 21st century.

In this captivating event, she tells the tale of one of antiquity’s most potent deities, and with it, the story of human desire itself.

If you’re attending in person, please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. We are committed to the safety of our event bookers. Find out how we are welcoming you to the Library safely.

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This event is kindly supported by Fellows Auctioneers. 

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