Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Poseidon - The National Archeological Museum




The Poseidon from Cape Artemision. It is not only its height - 2.09 meters overall - that makes this a great work. The sculptor has captured the movement of the god, poised to hurl the trident that he holds in his right hand. The achievement of the sculptor lies above all else in the freedom with which he has rendered the legs apart, in chiastic balance with the open shoulders, and also in the working of the head, the curls on the forehead and the hair tied behind in a charming plait. It is an original work of a great sculptor, possibly of Kalamis. It was raised from the sea, off the cape of Artemision, in north Euboea. Dated to circa 460 BCE.

The National Archeological Museum