Dove

This terracotta figurine of a bird most likely represents a dove, a bird often associated with the goddess Aphrodite. The dove represents love, beauty, sexuality, and other qualities consistent with Aphrodite. Doves are also thought to have a connection with death, as they are sometimes seen on grave reliefs of young children, perhaps as a companion for the dead. Doves were also a preferred sacrificial victim for Aphrodite: a terracotta dove such as this one would could have been dedicated to Aphrodite as a votive offering in place of the sacrifice of a real dove.