Thread by @DocCrom

Ancient Artefact of the Day: The Piraeus Apollo - an over life-size bronze Kouros, identified as an Apollo due to traces of what may have been a bow in his left hand. The dating of the piece is disputed (see below). #AAOTD #Apollo

Image: Piraeus Museum 4645

Excavated in 1959 as part of a cache of bronzes that included the Piraeus Athena, and dated to 86 BC due to the presence of an Athenian coin issued under Aristion, the cache is associated with the Roman sack of the Piraeus under Sulla.

https://twitter.com/DocCrom/status/1251099278862430209?s=20

The style of the 'Apollo' is confusing, with an archaic-styled head and chest, but with a robustness of the legs and musculature that is more of the 'Severe Style'.

Another troublesome issue is the lack of inlaying for the eyes, as the incision of the pupils seems to more closely mimic stone sculptures of the sixth century.

Image: Sphinx, Kerameikos Museum P 1050

This mix of features would suggest that the typical date given to the Piraeus Apollo, of ca. 475 BC, can not really be sustained. It may well be that the piece, with its composite elements, is better seen as one of the deliberately archaising bronzes of the Hellenistic period.

For more on the Piraeus Bronzes, see:

Olga Palaiga, 1997, "Reflections on the Piraeus Bronzes", in 'Greek Offerings: Essays on Greek Art in honour of John Boardman', Palaiga (ed.); Oxbow Monograph 89: 177-196

#AAOTD #Apollo