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Limestone Herakles

ca. 530–520 BCE
Not on view
The statue was considerably reworked by Cesnola's "restorers" so that numerous features of the original are no longer clear. The proper left arm and the legs were certainly reattached; the original position of the right arm has also been obscured. Herakles wears a tunic, belt, modified kilt, and lionskin. In his left hand he held a bow, half of which appears against his body. (The pickle-shaped club that he brandished for many decades was added in modern times and has been removed.) On his right thigh are the ends of the arrows that he held in his right hand. Although the head 74.51.2857 indicates that Cypriot sculptors were working on a large scale as early as the beginning of the sixth century B.C., it was only during the second half of the century that monumental pieces were produced in some quantity.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Limestone Herakles
  • Period: Archaic
  • Date: ca. 530–520 BCE
  • Culture: Cypriot
  • Medium: Limestone
  • Dimensions: Overall: 78 × 19 × 12 in., 895 lb. (198.1 × 48.3 × 30.5 cm, 406 kg)
  • Classification: Stone Sculpture
  • Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
  • Object Number: 74.51.2455
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

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Limestone Geryon, Limestone, Cypriot
Limestone Geryon
Cypriot
2nd half of the 6th century BCE
Limestone statue of Aphrodite holding winged Eros, Limestone, Cypriot
Limestone statue of Aphrodite holding winged Eros
Cypriot
late 4th century BCE
Limestone statue of a youth, Limestone, Cypriot
Limestone statue of a youth
Cypriot
early 5th century BCE
Limestone head of beardless male votary, Limestone, Cypriot
Limestone head of beardless male votary
Cypriot
mid–1st century BCE
Limestone head of a bearded man, Limestone, Cypriot
Limestone head of a bearded man
Cypriot
early 6th century BCE

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