The Beginnings

 The only sculptures which had been made before about 600 B.C. Were very small and made of bronze.  With the development of the polis and of public stone buildings also came the creation of life-size statues of stone.  Again, Egypt seems to have been the major influence.  From 600 B.C. Large numbers of stone statues of men and women were made.

 A male figure standing upright with straight, or slightly flexed arms, fists clenched.  One leg (usually left) is slightly advanced.  No clothes (sometimes belt; necklet or hair band).  Highly stylised and symmetrical.  Can you spot similarities/ differences?

 Egyptian  Greek

 Used as grave markers or votive offerings.  Frontal pose with arms at sides.  One foot (usually left) forward.  Broad shoulders and narrow waist.  2 “V”s for chest and groin.  Incised lines or grooves for muscles.  Cubic head with stylised hair.  Large ears and feet.  Knees and malleoli level and symmetrical.  Hands and elbows unnaturally aligned.  Expressionless.

 Stylised  Schematic  Symmetrical  Patterned  Incisions/grooves  Blocky  Frontal  Cubic  Still  Formal  Stiff  Formulaic

Kleobis & Biton – Twins from Delphi