Sculptures

Sculpture

In spite of the praises given to the greatness of Greek painting, it is generally held that the greatest Greek art was sculpture. Many original works of Greek sculpture have also come to us chiefly through copies made during Roman times. Greek sculptures tried to represent the details of the human body with complete accuracy.

Two of the greatest sculptors of all time lived during the Golden Age of Athens. The first was Myron, whose figure of the Discus Thrower is very familiar. The second, Phidias, was artistic advisor to Pericles during the rebuilding of Athens. He was the creator of the two wonderful statues of Athena--one at the entrance to the Acropolis and one in the Parthenon. His greatest work was the statue of Zeus at the Temple of Olympia. Greeks who attended the Olympic Games looked at it with awe. A man who had not seen it considered himself unfortunate.