Photos of the Magnificent Ancient Greek Bronze Statue Art

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Photos of the Very Best Ancient Greek Bronze Statue art including the magnificent Riace Bronzes. Ancient Geek Bronze Statues From the Very Best Archaeology Museums. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Very Best Ancient Greek Bronze Statue Art

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Photos of wonderful Ancient Greek Bronze Statues including photos of the Riace Bronzes.

Ancient Greek Bronze Statues are very rare. Bronze was a valuable metal so many statues would have been melted down and re-used.

Most of the Ancient Greek Statues we can see in archaeology museums today were recovered from ancient ship wrecks. Bronze is not effected by sea water so statues recovered from ship wrecks are often un damaged. After careful painstaking renovation to remove these Ancient Greek statues look as fresh as when they were made over 2000 years ago.

Ancient Greek Riace Bronze Statues

Some of the most spectacular shipwreck finds are the Riace Bronzes Statues. They comprise a pair of naked warrior statues made around 460BC and housed at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Academics believe that two separate Greek artists created the bronze statues. It is believed that the statues were made about 30 years apart.

“Statue A” was probably created between the years 460 and 450 BC, and “Statue B” between 430 and 420 BC. “Statue A” has been attributed to the Ancient Greek sculptor  Myron. “Statue B” has been attributed to Alkamenes a pupil of Phidias.

“Statue A” portrays a young warrior hero or god with a proud look, conscious of his own beauty and power. “Statue B” portrays an older more mature warrior hero with a relaxed pose and a kind and gentle gaze.

The Riace Bronze statues belong to a transitional period from archaic Greek sculpture to the early Classical style, disguising their idealised geometry and impossible anatomy.

Athen Archaeology Museum Ancient Greek Bronze Statues

The Athens Archaeological Museum houses 2 wonder and impressive Ancient Greek Bronze statues.

The Jockey of Artemision Greek Bronze

‘Jockey of Artemision’ a Hellenistic bronze statue of a boy riding a horse, made circa 140 BC. This sculpture is life sized depicting a full size horse with a small boy riding bear back. The horse is in full gallop and the movement in the sculpture is incredible.

Bronze Statue of Zeus

Early classical ancient Greek bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon, circa 450 BC. This classical period bronze statue depicts Zeus or Poseidon with legs apart and arms outstretched. He is about to throw a spear which is missing from the statue. Athens National Arcjaeological Museum, cat no X15161.

The Athens Archaeological Museum also houses other Greek Bronze statues which are incomplete of damaged.

 Villa of the Papyri Ancient Greek Statues

The eruption that covered Pompeii and Herculaneum for nearly 2000 years was undoubted disaster for the residence but, it has been incredibly fortunate for archaeologists.

One of the great finds were the ensemble of Ancient Greek statues excavated from the Villa of the Papyri, Herculaneum. statues of dancers were excavated from the peristyle area of the Villa. These stylised statues have the rigid feeling of Archaic statues. Many other Roman bronze statues were excavated from this villa but its owner would have probably prized his original Ancient Greek statues above the others.

These statues are housed at the Naples Archaeology Museum.

The Boxer Ancient Greek Bronze Statue

A wonderful statue of an athlete after a boxing match is house at the National Roman Museum in Rome. Made in 1st century BC it is attributed to Athenian Sculptor Appolonios, son of Nestor.

The bronze statue depicts the face, ears, and nose severely wounded by blows received during a boxing match. No wounds appear on the body since ancient boxing practices made the face the main target.

The boxer is only wearing a sort of loin cloth (kynodesme) around his waist. Elaborate leather gloves (himantes oxeis) protect the hands and the forearms. They consist of thick leather straps that bind the four fingers, leaving the thumb free. On the forearms the gloves are bordered with fur lining. He looks up with a sad expression.

.Other Ancient Greek Bronze statues in this photo gallery include bronzes for Delphi Archaeology Site Museum