Kourotrophos - Child Nurturer- Female Figurine Depicted with Infant - Cyprus - Museum Reproduction - Ceramic Artifact

Item Specifics

Material:Ceramic
Condition: New, Handmade in Greece.
Height: 23,5 cm - 9,3 inches
Width: 12 cm - 4,7 inches
Length: 7,5 cm - 3 inches
Weight: 680 g

Kourotrophos child nurturer" is the name that was given in ancient Greece to gods and goddesses whose properties included their ability to protect young people. Numerous gods are referred to by the epithet, including, but not limited to, Athena, Apollo, Hermes, Hecate, Aphrodite, Artemis, and Eileithyia. They were usually depicted holding an infant in their arms. Deianeria and Ariadne were occasional shown on vases with their children, Hyllus and Staphylos and Oenopion respectively, however, there is not evidence that there was a cult around them as kourotrophic figures.
Kourotrophos was a deity of the city of Athens, who was not among the major Olympian deities. She appeared as the protector of children and young people and a sanctuary built on her name in honor of the cult, the so-called Kourotropheion. Kourotrophos was a major figure of cult, appearing in sacrifice groups connected with fertility and child care.