A variety of special programs complement the exhibition Aphrodite and the Gods of Love this spring. Tickets are required for most events; see details in the listings below.

Admission to the Getty Villa and to the exhibition is FREE; an advance, timed-entry ticket is required for general admission. For more, see information on planning a visit or call (310) 440-7300.

Lectures

Playing with Eros: Riddles and Rhymes

Aphrodite always had serious competition from her son Eros, the Greek god of desire. He was the darling of ancient artists, who expressed the popular fascination with his irresistible power in poetry and art. Eros was active everywhere in Greek and Roman daily life, and his interferences in the affairs of gods and mortals were as much a cause for celebration as for lamentation. Christine Kondoleon of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, discusses ancient perceptions of Eros and his role in the realm of human desire, sex, and love. Free; a ticket is required.

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Thursday, April 19, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Getty Villa, Auditorium

Aphrodite's Scent and the Essence of Life

Archaeologists have recently found remarkable evidence for the production of ancient fragrances on the island of Cyprus. Excavation director Maria Rosaria Belgiorno presents recent discoveries from the site and explores the origin of perfume, the methods used to produce it, and its inherent connection with Aphrodite. Free; a ticket is required.

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Thursday, June 21, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Getty Villa, Auditorium

Symposium

Excavating Aphrodite

This one-day symposium highlights recently discovered objects relating to Aphrodite and new research associated with the goddess from a number of archaeological sites throughout the Mediterranean. Registration $10.

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Friday, April 20, 2012, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Getty Villa, Auditorium

Villa Theater Lab

Hugh Lupton and Helen Chadwick Perform Hymns to Aphrodite

Hugh Lupton is one of Britain's greatest living storytellers, carrying forward the ancient bardic tradition. Helen Chadwick is a celebrated composer and singer of songs. Together they present a new work in progress, conjuring tales (both sacred and profane) of the Greek and Roman gods of love. Recommended for teen and adult audiences. Tickets $7.

Learn more about Villa Theater Lab and get tickets.

Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, 2012, 3:00 p.m.
Getty Villa, Auditorium

Family Activities

Spicy Scents

With the exhibition Aphrodite and the Gods of Love at the Getty Villa, the scent of love is in the air! Drop by and learn about the spices that were used to create perfumes in the ancient world, then create your own unique scent. Free with your advance, timed-entry ticket to the Getty Villa.

Daily, April 1–15 (except Sunday, April 8), 2012, 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Getty Villa, Outer Peristyle

Family Festival

Join in a day celebrating Aphrodite and the Gods of Love. The goddess of passion, beauty, and pleasure was one of the most widely worshiped deities of the ancient world. Engaging workshops, enchanting storytelling, and haunting performances of music and dance all reimagine Aphrodite in the world of 21st-century Los Angeles. Free; an advance, timed-entry ticket is required.

Learn more about Family Festivals and get tickets.

Saturday April 21, 2012, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Getty Villa

Gallery Courses

Reclining and Dining: Eating and Sexuality

Explore the differences between Greek and Roman reclining and dining practices and attitudes about food, sex, and privacy. Using evidence in the Museum's collections and the site itself, journey back in time to envision and reenact public and private behaviors that centered on food and sensuality. Course fee $35; $28 students

Sunday, April 22, 2012, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Getty Villa, Meeting Rooms and Museum galleries

Love, Nudity, Power: Aphrodite from Antiquity to Today

Investigate the influence of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, on the imagination of artists past and present. This two-part course begins at the Getty Villa with an examination of classical Aphrodite and the impact of her nude image in ancient art. The following week, trace the enduring influence of the goddess in the later visual arts at the Getty Center. Course fee $40; $30 students.

Part 1: Saturday, June 9, 2012, 1:00–4:00 p.m., Getty Villa, Meeting Rooms
Part 2: Saturday, June 16, 2012, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Getty Center, Research Institute Lecture Hall and Museum Galleries

Studio Course

Culinary Workshop: Aphrodisiacs

Join chef and educator Maite Gomez-Réjon for a culinary journey into the role erotic magic and food played in the dynamics of ancient courtship and marriage. Participate in a hands-on cooking class and communal lunch. Course fee $75.

Saturdays and Sundays, April 14, 15, 21, and 28; May 19 and 20, 2012, 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Getty Villa, Education Studio and Meeting Rooms

Talks and Tours

Point-of-View Talk: Helen Morales on Aphrodite and the Gods of Love

Join classicist and cultural critic Helen Morales for an hour-long talk featuring her unique perspective on love, mythology, and sexuality in ancient Greece related to the exhibition. Free with your advance, timed-entry ticket to the Getty Villa. Sign up at the Tour Meeting Place outside the Museum Entrance 15 minutes before the tour.

Sunday, April 22, 2012, 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, May 5, 2012, 11:30 a.m.
Getty Villa, Museum galleries

Curator's Gallery Talks

David Saunders, assistant curator of antiquities, the J. Paul Getty Museum, leads an hour-long tour of the exhibition. Free with your advance, timed-entry ticket to the Getty Villa. Sign up at the Tour Meeting Place outside the Museum Entrance 15 minutes before the tour.

Thursdays, March 29, April 26, May 17, and June 14, 2012, 3:00 p.m.
Getty Villa, Museum galleries

Villa Teen Apprentice Focus Tours: Love, Sex, and Desire

Explore a different perspective on the Museum's collection with our Teen Apprentices in this 45-minute tour. Free with your advance, timed-entry ticket to the Getty Villa. Sign up at the Tour Meeting Place outside the Museum Entrance 15 minutes before the tour.

Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.
March 31–May 20, 2012 (except April 28)
Getty Villa, Museum galleries

Exhibition Tours

A special one-hour tour of the exhibition Aphrodite and the Gods of Love. Free with your advance, timed-entry ticket to the Getty Villa. Sign up at the Tour Meeting Place outside the Museum Entrance 15 minutes before the tour.

Fridays, March 30–July 6, 2012, 2:00 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays, March 31–July 8, 1:00 p.m.
Getty Villa, Museum galleries

GettyGuide® Multimedia Player

The Greek goddess Aphrodite had powers far beyond love and beauty. Hear stories of seduction, games, and betrayals among the gods of love and the mortals who worshipped them. Pick up an iPod touch at the GettyGuide Desk on the first floor of the Museum.