LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Favorite Statue

 
 
Exquisite statues abound at the Biltmore Estate.  Some are within the house, others in the gardens.  My favorite statue stands alone on a hill overlooking the estate.  It is the statue of Diana, goddess of the hunt.
 
Diana is the twin of Apollo and prefers to live in the high mountains and in sacred woods.  What better place for her than the Biltmore Estate?
 
 
The beautiful Diana

 
 
 
Her trusty hunting dog beside her, she watches over the Estate



Only a few years ago, Diana wasn't often seen by the public.  She stands atop a rather steep hill and there are no gardens or other statues nearby.  With the increasing popularity of the Biltmore Estate for weddings, a luxurious tent on a permanent brick foundation has been erected behind the statue.  It is large enough to host 500 guests for weddings and sit-down dinners, even more for "simple" receptions.  It is indeed a wonderful place but I rather dislike the intrusive tent.


9 comments:

Christine said...

Very nice! Hope to visit Biltmore next spring!

troutbirder said...

Interesting. I should know this but are Diana and Aphrodite the same gal?

Ms. A said...

Wonder if Diana minds the intrusion? I know I would.

NCmountainwoman said...

Troutbirder - Close: Aphrodite is also known as "Dione" the female form of dios (god). Aphrodite is Greek, some say the daughter of Zeus. Others say she arose from the sea when Uranus was castrated and his organs tossed there. Her Roman equivalent is Venus.

Diana is a Roman goddess, daughter of Jupiter. Her Greek equivalent is Artemis.

KB said...

Diana is indeed gorgeous, especially with a dog by her side. I'd dislike the tent too. I guess that a lot of other people love Diana too.

Arkansas Patti said...

Wonder if the dog had special God like powers. I didn't know that about Diana--interesting.

kks said...

very cool!
xoxo

Mary Lee said...

Queens University here has a wonderful statue of the young Diana in a courtyard fountain, donated by the sculptor, Anna Hyatt Huntington.

http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p1347

There is something magical about Diana, isn't there.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Patti - As far as I'm concerned ALL dogs have special god-like powers.

Mary Lee - I have seen that statue. Back in the old days when it was Queens College!