Interpreting the Visual Evidence
The Ideal of Male Beauty
The Greek word kouros
("young man" or
"youth") is now applied
to a whole series
of life-sized statues
from the Archaic Period. The one shown
here comes from Anavyssos in Attica,
and was made between 540 and 515
b.c.e. (It is now in the National Archeological
Museum of Athens.) Although
scholars used to believe that such statues
were meant to represent the god
Apollo, further research has shown that
most were made to commemorate the
dead, especially young warriors who had
fallen in battle. This one appears to be
walking forward, smiling, but his eyes are
closed. The accompanying inscription
reads: "Stop and show your pity here for
Kroisos, now dead, who once fighting in
the foremost ranks of battle was destroyed
by raging Ares."
Images
Questions for Analysis
1. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d What aspects of the body does the
kouros emphasize? If this is intended
to be a model of Greek manhood,
what values would it convey to contemporary
youths? |
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2. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d Is this a representation of the young
man as he was when living, or in death?
How do your conclusions about the
ideal of male beauty change if this is a
glorification of death? |
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3. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d Compare this image to the values
expressed in the verses by Tyrtaeus
of Sparta on “The Beautiful and the
Good” (page 82). How do these
two perspectives complement one
another? |
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