Bronze kouros-type figurine
Χ3140 + Χ3150 + Χ3152 + Χ3
Metal (Bronze)
Mended, almost intact
Height: 18.2 cm.Length: 3.5 cm.Width: 4.2 cm.
Syme
Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite
Early Archaic period:
670-650 BC:
Gallery:
XVIICase:
165Exhibition thematic unit:
Geometric - Archaic - Classical period (10th - 4th c. BC). The Sanctuaries. From Minoan cult to the amalgamation of religious beliefsSanctuaries
Description
Bronze kouros-type human figurine. His arms are bent with hands closed in fists, left leg forward. He has a wavy hairstyle and is wearing a loincloth. There is an obvious attempt at naturalistic depiction, with the muscles outlined in some places. The body, however, is solid and stiff-legged. The facial features are highly stressed, as is customary in the Daedalic style of the period. The object comes from an ash layer around the sanctuary altar which also contained many other bronze figurines of different periods. The characteristic gesture is a Minoan-era survival seen in Minoan figurines found at the sanctuary. The figurine, perhaps a votive offering dedicated by a high-ranking youth of the time, encapsulated the ideal of decorum which formed an important part of the education of young Cretan men.Bibliography:
Lebessi Α., “ Ιερόν Ερμού και Αφροδίτης εις Σύμην Κρήτης”, Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρίας 1972, 193-203. Verlinden, C. Les statuettes anthropomorphes crétoises en bronze et plomb, du IIIe millénaire au VII siècle av J-C., Louvain-la-Neuve, 1984, 224. Lebessi Α., Το Ιερό του Ερμή και της Αφροδίτης στη Σύμη Βιάννου ΙΙΙ. Τα χάλκινα ανθρωπόμορφα ειδώλια, Athens, 2002, 21ff.Author:
S. P.Photographs' metadata