Information

The Calf Bearer: The Story Behind this Magnificent Ancient Greek Sculpture

Summary: This is the first known photograph of the magnificent statue of Moschophoros, also known in English as The Calf Bearer when was discovered on the Acropolis in 1864.The statue, dated c. 560 BC and estimated to have originally measured 1.65 meters (5.4 ft)


This is the first known photograph of the magnificent statue of Moschophoros, also known in English as The Calf Bearer when was discovered on the Acropolis in 1864.

The statue, dated c. 560 BC and estimated to have originally measured 1.65 meters (5.4 ft) in height, is now in the Acropolis Museum.

The inscription on that plinth claims that this statue was dedicated by someone named Rhombos (possibly Kombos or Bombos; the beginning of the name is missing) to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. This suggests that the sponsor was a very well-to-do-man and a prominent citizen of Attica who offered his own likeness to Athena. He has a calf on his shoulders which represents the sacrificial offering he is about to give to the goddess.

This interaction between the calf and the calf-bearer represents a strong, inseparable bond between the two. The man in the sculpture is smiling, which is a unique and new feature from some earlier Greek statues.


The condition of the Moschophoros is poor and broken in some areas. The legs are missing below the knees on both sides. The hands are broken off. The genitals and the left thigh have separated from the whole sculpture. The lower half of the face (the chin area) is chipped off. The foot with a plinth is connected to the base. The calf is well preserved, while Moschophoros’s eyes are absent.

(with information from the Acropolis Museum)

Category: English News Information
Key words:

Author:By

More...

Author:Tasos

More...

Author:Kokkinidis

More...

img

Add:68 West Youyi Road,Xi'an,Shaanxi,P.R.China
Email:secretariat#iicc.org.cn
Tel:(+86)029-85246378