The National Archeological Museum

Our Monuments class took a field trip to the National Archeological Museum with Michael last week. 

This is a marble figurine from early Cycladic period. These figurines are some of the most important works of Cycladic art. They usually represent standing female naked figures, whose ancient prototypes are the Neolithic female figurines of the Greek mainland, Aegean and Anatolia. 

This is a statue of a kouros made of naxian marble, found in Sounion. It was an offering to the god Poseidon and was placed in front of his temple. It is huge as you can see, comparing Michael next to it, and the overwhelming size shows that Archaic sculptors were into over exaggerated statues. 

Base for a funerary kouros made of pentelic marble, found in Athens. 

Bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon, (still controversial) found in the sea of Cape Artemision.

Statuette of Athena known as the “Varvakeion Athena” is the truest and best-preserved copy of the cult statue of the Athena Parthenos by Phedias. The original was 12 times larger. 

Bronze statue of a horse and a young jockey, retrieve in pieced from the shipwreck off Cape Artemision in Euboea. 

This bronze statue has been identified as Perseus, who would have been holding the head of Medusa, but is now believed to be Paris who would have been holding the “apple of Strife” ready to award it to the most beautiful goddess, Aphrodite. 

Statute of the goddess Themis, daughter of Ouranos and Gaia, goddess of justice. 

Statue of Aphrodite, Pan and Eros. Aphrodite fends of goat-footed god Pan, threatening him with her sandal while Eros flies to her aid. Comical scene shown through statue artwork.