The sculptures taken from the temple of Aphai were of two warriors, felled in battle, who lay dying, the warrior from the West pediment had an arrow or spear lodged in his chest (Now missing), the warrior from the East pediment, is thought to be a later sculpture, both are thought to represent warriors from the Trojan Wars.Ĩ. In 1811, English architect Charles Robert Cockerell and Baron Otto Magnus Von Stackberg, removed sculptures from the East and West pediments of the temple (Shades of Elgin from England here), and had them shipped abroad, where they were sold to the Crown Prince, soon to be Ludwig I of Hanover. The temple of Aphaia was built within a sanctuary on the island of Aegina, dedicated to the goddess Aphaia, the existing temple is maybe the second, or even third temple built on the site, the previous ones having been destroyed. The Dying Warrior, located at the pediment of the temple of Aphaia at Aegina. Moschophoros (Calf – Bearer) Around 570 BC The brothers make it to the temple at the top of the hill, where they collapse, exhausted, their mother prays to the goddess Hera, to allow them to die in their sleep, the kindest and easiest death for mere mortals.Ĥ. The second story has the statues named as Kleobis and Biton, the names under which they are displayed in the museum at Delphi, two human brothers, sons of the Cydippe, a priestess of the goddess Hera, at Delphi.Ĭydippe, one day, is being pulled up a steep hill, by oxen and cart, to pray at the temple, the oxen drop dead on the spot, and being such good sons, Kleobis and Biton hitch themselves to the cart and proceed, with much effort, to drag their beloved mother up the steep hill.
There are two stories to choose from, regarding their identity, both from Greek mythology.Īlong with the name of the sculptor, the word “Fanakon” is inscribed on the base, meaning princes, the name usually given to Castor and Pollux, twin brothers, sons of Zeus, known as “dioscuri”, widely worshipped in the Peloponnese. Kleobis and Biton, two larger than life (naked, except for boots), identical statues, made from Parian (Paros) marble.Īlthough found at Delphi, the statues originate from Argos in the Peloponnese and according to an inscription on the base, were made by Polymedes of Argos. Now in the Delphi Archaeological Museum, Greeceįound at Delphi, the navel of the world and the home to the Greek oracle, Pythia, in 18. Lady of Auxerre (Kore of Auxerre) Around 650 – 625 BC The main men, all great sculptors, back in the days of the ancients, were Myron (Active 480 – 444), Pheidias (Active 488 – 444), Polykleitos (Active 450 – 430), Praxiteles (Active 375 – 335) and Lysippos (Active 370 – 300).Ģ5 famous ancient Greek statues, listed in chronological order, with the approximate date of their creation.ġ. Throughout the three eras of Ancient Greek art Archaic (600 – 480 BC), Classical (480 – 323 BC) and Hellenistic (323 – 31 BC), three main materials were used Bronze, marble and chryselephantine (Gold and ivory on wood). Here are twenty-five incredible works of ancient Greek art, twenty-five of the most famous statues of ancient Greece where they originated, where and when they were discovered, and where they can be found today. The ancient Greeks are legendary for many reasons their story-telling through mythology, for their twelve glorious gods, their esteemed philosophers, and their proud, brave warriors but maybe we remember them most for their love of beauty.īeauty, which the ancient Greeks honoured, by constructing some of the most spectacular, life-like statues and sculptures and amazing architectural wonders which greatly influeced the rest of the world, in fact Roman architecture essentially became a reproduction of ancient Greek architecture.