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Riace Warrior A
by Ancient Greek (Unknown), -450
Artwork Details
Details
- Year
- -450
- Medium
- Bronze
- Size
- 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) tall
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Ancient Greek Riace Warrior A is one of two monumental Greek bronzes discovered by a scuba diver off the coast of Calabria in 1972. Created around 450 BCE, the 198-centimeter figure depicts a bearded warrior in the prime of life, his idealized musculature representing the classical Greek concept of the heroic male body. The statue's survival as an original Greek bronze makes it extraordinarily rare.
The warrior originally held a shield and spear, his eyes were inlaid with bone and glass, and his lips and nipples were highlighted with copper. The relaxed contrapposto pose and naturalistic anatomy represent the Early Classical "Severe Style" at its peak. Scholars debate whether the statues depict heroes, gods, or commemorated real warriors.
Both Riace Warriors are displayed at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria.
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About Riace Warrior A
Both warriors are at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria, Italy. They were found in the sea off the Italian coast in 1972.
A scuba diver named Stefano Mariottini found them in 1972, about 200 meters offshore in 8 meters of water. The discovery was one of the century's most important archaeological finds.
The bronze stands 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) tall. The heroic scale and idealized anatomy represent Greek ideals of the perfect male body.
Most ancient bronzes were melted for reuse in later periods. These statues survived only because they sank in a shipwreck, hiding them for over two millennia.
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