The Delphic Charioteer

Question 1

Date?

Answer 1

Either 478 or 474 BC

Question 2

Height?

Answer 2

1.80m (lifesized)

Question 3

Made of?

Answer 3

Greek original, multi-media hollow bronze statue
(Copper on eyelashes and lips)
(Silver on teeth and headband)
(Onyx for the inlaid eyes)

Question 4

Purpose?

Answer 4

A votive offering at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi

Question 5

Originally located?

Answer 5

The Panhellenic sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi

Question 6

Sculptor?

Answer 6

Polyzalos of Gela

Question 7

Any inscriptions?

Answer 7

Yes, identifying the sculptor. “Polyzalos dedicated me… Make him prosper, honoured Apollo”

Question 8

Any props?

Answer 8

Yes, a horse’s reigns in his right hand. Possibly a whip in the left hand however the arm was lost

Question 9

Any supports?

Answer 9

No

Question 10

Describe the statue’s pose

Answer 10

Standing upright
Bare feet close together
Right arm flexed and holding reigns in hand
Left arm missing

Question 11

Describe the key statue’s facial features

Answer 11

Inlaid eyes (made of Onyx, a type of crystal)
Copper eyelashes and lips
Silver teeth and fillet (headband)
Curls in hair created by cold work
Loss of archaic smile, new ‘severe’ expression

Question 12

Describe the statue’s key body features

Answer 12

Statue wearing a xystis (a charioteer’s racing garment)
Asymmetric cross braces across the back (used to keep xystis in place)
Catenary around neck of xystis
High belt across torso
Fluting of xystis to cover legs (would’ve been blocked by chariot)
Bare feet

Question 13

Describe the group composition this statue was a part of

Answer 13

The statue was part of a larger bronze group composition containing a chariot and 4 horses that would’ve taken up a huge amount of space

Question 14

What technique was used to create this statue?

Answer 14

The lost wax casting technique

Question 15

SCHOLARLY SOURCE:
Neer

Answer 15

Neer highlights the changes made from the Archaic period to the Early Classical
“Attention focuses on the face, no longer smiling in the Archaic manner, but impassive”
“The heavy chin, oval face and full lips are characteristic of the Early Classical style”

Question 16

SCHOLARLY SOURCE:
Mitropoulos and Snook

Answer 16

Mitropoulos and Snook talk about how the multi media impacts the statue
“His portrait is rather idealised and unspecific”
“He has additional materials that make him life-like: copper eyelashes and headband, and glass and stone eyes”