The Bronze Status from Artemision
Han Xueyuan
The Bronze Statue from Artemision The Bronze Statue from Artemision is made in Transition period and probably in Attica. It is made of bronze and depicts a naked man. As a result of its provenance and subject mater, scholars have debated whether the Bronze Statue from Artemision portrays an athlete or a god. Furthermore, they frequently attempt to identify which god, if any, this statue portrays 1. From its height (larger than life-size), the facial features, and the pose of the figure, I argue that this statue portrays the god Zeus, rather than an athlete or the god Poseidon.
This statue is made of bronze. It is 2.1 meters 2 in height and presents a nude man with a headdress and a beard. Overall, the whole body was shown in three-dimensions; we can see almost every part of the body. Moreover, the statue shows the man’s musculature in many parts of the body, including arms, forearms, chest, abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs and cruses. The proportions of the body were carefully calculated. Movements of the body could also be perceived: he opens his left arm and left forearm stretching out almost straight and his right forearm stretching out upwards. The five fingers of his left hand are stretching out, pointing to the left when you view the statue from its front, while the five fingers of his other hand are positioned differently: except his forefinger and his thumb, the rest of the three fingers are bending toward his palm. His forefinger is slightly stretching out compared with the rest of his three fingers and his thumb is completely stretching out. His right foot is located behind his left foot with his left foot pointing toward the left when you view the statue from the front. His right
1
George E. Mylonas, The Bronze Statue from Artemision (New York: Archaeological Institute of America, 1944), 143-160
2
George E. Mylonas, The Bronze Statue from Artemision (New York: Archaeological Institute of America, 1944), 143-160 1
Han Xueyuan
The Bronze Statue from Artemision The Bronze Statue from Artemision is made in Transition period and probably in Attica. It is made of bronze and depicts a naked man. As a result of its provenance and subject mater, scholars have debated whether the Bronze Statue from Artemision portrays an athlete or a god. Furthermore, they frequently attempt to identify which god, if any, this statue portrays 1. From its height (larger than life-size), the facial features, and the pose of the figure, I argue that this statue portrays the god Zeus, rather than an athlete or the god Poseidon.
This statue is made of bronze. It is 2.1 meters 2 in height and presents a nude man with a headdress and a beard. Overall, the whole body was shown in three-dimensions; we can see almost every part of the body. Moreover, the statue shows the man’s musculature in many parts of the body, including arms, forearms, chest, abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs and cruses. The proportions of the body were carefully calculated. Movements of the body could also be perceived: he opens his left arm and left forearm stretching out almost straight and his right forearm stretching out upwards. The five fingers of his left hand are stretching out, pointing to the left when you view the statue from its front, while the five fingers of his other hand are positioned differently: except his forefinger and his thumb, the rest of the three fingers are bending toward his palm. His forefinger is slightly stretching out compared with the rest of his three fingers and his thumb is completely stretching out. His right foot is located behind his left foot with his left foot pointing toward the left when you view the statue from the front. His right
1
George E. Mylonas, The Bronze Statue from Artemision (New York: Archaeological Institute of America, 1944), 143-160
2
George E. Mylonas, The Bronze Statue from Artemision (New York: Archaeological Institute of America, 1944), 143-160 1
Han Xueyuan
Bibliography: 1. Mylonas, George E. "The Bronze Statue from Artemision." American Journal of Archaeology. 48.2 (1944): 143-160. Print. 2. Lee, Sherman E. "A Bronze from the Age of Pericles." Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art. 46.2 (1959): 19-24. Print. 3. Mylonas, George E. "Athletic Honors in the Fifth Century." Classical Journal. 39.5 (1944): 278-289. Print. 7 George E. Mylonas, Athletic Honors in the Fifth Century (Monmouth: The Classical Association of the Middle West and South, 1944), 278-289 6