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Ancient Mediterranean + Europe
Course: Ancient Mediterranean + Europe > Unit 6
Lesson 3: Daedalic and Archaic- Tiny Timelines: Archaic Greece in a global context
- Kouroi and Korai, an introduction
- Lady of Auxerre
- New York Kouros
- New York Kouros
- Marble Statue of a kouros
- Anavysos Kouros
- Anavysos Kouros
- The Kouroi of Kleobis and Biton
- Peplos Kore from the Acropolis
- Peplos Kore
- Ancient Greek temples at Paestum, Italy
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
- Siphnian Treasury, Delphi
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Marble Statue of a kouros
Met curator Joan R. Mertens on self-reliance in Marble Statue of a kouros (youth), c. 590–580 B.C.E. from the Attic culture of ancient Greece.
This kouros is one of the earliest marble statues of a human figure carved in Attica. The rigid stance, with the left leg forward and arms at the side, was derived from Egyptian art. The pose provided a clear, simple formula that was used by Greek sculptors throughout the sixth century B.C.E. In this early figure, geometric, almost abstract forms predominate, and anatomical details are rendered in beautiful analogous patterns. The statue marked the grave of a young Athenian aristocrat.
View this work on metmuseum.org.
Are you an educator? Here's a related lesson plan. For additional educator resources from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, visit Find an educator resource.
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What else does it tell us and what was found in the area of the statue/(3 votes)
It was acquired by the Met through the Fletcher Fund in 1932 - so says the Met website. Since there is no other info anywhere, it was probably dug up illegally like the Anavysos Kouros. There really isn't any other info on WHERE it came from. Remember, a lot of these items are sold on black markets by grave robbers - it's a big problem actually :/(12 votes)
I remember in art school it was mentioned that there are not very many of these kouros statues still in existence. Does anyone know how many are left?(2 votes)
There are about 200 examples of kouroi surviving, most in fragmentary condition.(9 votes)
Maybe I'm looking straight at it and can't see it -- or perhaps it's been moved....?
Can anyone point me to the original greek kourous / new york kourous article/ video here at KA?
I can still find it on YouTube at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JCTPh_QDlCY but not anywhere here.
All the questions and answers for it seem to have also disappeared as well --possibly within the last two weeks or so.
Just seems a bit odd.
Update 4/25/15
The original Kouros has returned along with the questions and answers. Perhaps he just went walk about ?(5 votes)
How do they collect all the art? Do they just find it lying around?(2 votes)
It depends, sometimes they buy art from other museums or private collectors, sometimes they send expeditions to go and dig up ancient artifacts. Often explorers would donate art that they had found on their travels.(3 votes)
Does a name exists for this statue? Or is it just simply called "kouros"?(1 vote)- If I'm not mistaken, it's called the New York Kouros(5 votes)
Do we know when the first statue was made?(1 vote)
Much older human figures have been found. The Hohle Fels ivory may be 40,000 years old and the so called Venus of Willendorf is likely more than 25,000 years old.(4 votes)
Question for the Met curator speaking here: "Are you speaking to the strength that this specific Kouros demonstrates or to the Kouros as a figure in general?"
Thanks!(1 vote)- Given that this video is not a discussion on Kouroi in the general sense, but about this specific Kouros, it would be a very safe assumption that she is only speaking about this Kouros.(3 votes)
What does Kouros mean, and in what language?(1 vote)
Your questions are answered by Dr. Harris and Zucker here: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek-art/daedalic-archaic/v/kouros-youth-archaic-greek-c-590-580-b-c-e(3 votes)
What is the name of the naked man statue?(1 vote)- what is the point of a good life if when we die it's all going to be gone?(1 vote)
- From the author:Perhaps one of the points of the kouros and so much that culture regards as important, is to try to overcome mortality, to become a part of a longer history. To be remembered and to inspire those that come later.(2 votes)
Video transcript
The young man stands with his left foot advanced, and his arms held to either side. He stands without the benefit of any support. The fact that the artist was able to balance 2,000 pounds of solid marble on these very slim ankles is a major technical achievement. He literally stands on his own two feet. He’s self-reliant and self-sufficient. He would have originally stood on a base that gave his name and identified his function as a tomb sculpture or as a dedication in a sanctuary. The kouros is naked, except for a narrow band around his neck and a ribbon that ties his beautifully groomed hair. This is a very … stripped-down kind of representation. There is nothing that tells us where he’s been and where he’s going. And so our complete focus is on his body and his mind. Looking at yourself in front of a mirror tends to undermine one's feeling of confidence or of dignity. The kouros is in no way diminished. On the contrary, his power resides in his beautiful body and the steadfast gaze. This combination of poise and nudity became a visual expression of sovereignty, and it lived on in Roman art and beyond. If you stop and look, more than once, maybe, I feel he will lead you in the most extraordinary directions.