Ancient Greek Art-Delos Island Museum - Hellenic Sculptures

This room contains many typical examples of late Hellenistic sculpture, from the heyday of Delos, in other words from 166 to 88. The majority of these works adorned private residences, while only a few were made for public buildings or sanctuaries. This era is characterized by an admiration for the sculpture of the Classical period, and even of the Archaic period, and as a consequence led many artists to a sterile imitation of earlier styles and trends, with dubious success. Nevertheless, there are some original works on display here, as well as copies of well-known works of the Classical period, but made by mediocre artists. Most of them date from the second half of the second century and the beginning of the first century.

There is an interesting series of statues on the east side of the room associated with Dionysos: an actor dressed as Silenus holding young Dionysos in his arms; the god Pan shown holding his syrinx (Pan pipes) and with an animal hide thrown over the left shoulder; a Herm with the head of a Satyr; a god sitting upon a nice throne, perhaps Dionysos or Apollo, with a snake beside his left foot, found in the Sanctuary of Dionysos; two actors dressed as Sileni, wearing a goat-skin vest beneath their costumes and holding a wine-skin in the left hand and a tambourine in the right one, also found in the Sanctuary of Dionysos; a Satyr holding a wine-skin; a statuette of a Satyr with a frog. Two Herms with the head of Harpocrates, the first of which is holding the cornucopia, the symbol of abundance, in its right hand. Harpocrates is the Greek form of the Egyptian god Horns and was worshipped as protector of Statue of a Nymph, the house. The head of a goddess that a copy of an original work of the 4' century. It was found shows a Syrian influence. A Herm in the form of a in the House of Heroes.

Hermaphrodite, from the Theatre District. Another Herm, which was found in the House of Hermes and after which the house was named. This very fine head of Hermes, made in the archaic style and found in 1948, was inspired according to some scholars by Hermes Propylaios by Alkamenes, although some others see an influence from an original work by Kallimachos; notice the perfect styling of the hair and beard. Another Herm made of Pendelic marble, rather badly eroded today, comes from the Propylaia (Propylaios Hermes) and is perhaps a faithful copy of the Hermes Propylaios by Alkamenes from the Acropolis of Athens. A full-size copy of the well-known `Little Herculanean', a work by Praxiteles, discovered in the Agora of Theophrastos. The statue of a Nymph in very good condition from the House of Hermes; the fact that the left side was much better worked shows from which angle it was on view.

On the west side of the room there is a series of statues associated with the cult of Apollo and Artemis. The largest and most interesting one is the 1,44 m. high statue of Artemis the deer-slayer. The goddess is shown wearing her hunting outfit and holding in her left hand the antlers of a deer that she is about to slay with a spear that she was holding in her right hand, while her left knee holds the animal still. The work is in a very good condition, has movement and well rendered folds of the tunic on which traces of the original coloring remain. Notice the contrast between the violence involved in the act, the strong movement of the body and the expression of serenity on the face of the goddess. The statue of a Nymph, perhaps Amymone, a hand (perhaps Poseidon's) can be discerned on the right pulling away her garment to reveal her naked back and well-formed buttocks. The statue of a pensive Muse, maybe Polymnia (A 351), from the House of Dionysos; she is shown leaning on some kind of support, with her left hand to her chin. Notice the complexity of her garments and the fine way in which the folds have been worked. A statuette perhaps of Aphrodite, from the House of Hermes, with traces of the original coloring. Another statue of Aphrodite in the style of Praxiteles' Aphrodite. A headless statue of Apollo, very well preserved, from the House of the Masks. An Apollo from the Theater District, who was holding a guitar in his left hand; some coloring is still visible on his garments. An Artemis with an outstretched right arm, which probably held a bow; the folds of her peplos have been very well rendered, also from the Theater District. A statue probably of Leto from the Theater District. A statue perhaps of the goddess Tyche, who may have held the cornucopia, the symbol of abundance, in her right hand. A headless Artemis wearing a full-length chiton gathered at the waist, the left sleeve falling to the forearm to reveal her naked shoulder, and with a deerskin worn over it. In the southwest corner of the room there is an archaistic relief from the Hellenistic period with Hermes, Athena, Apollo and Artemis, from the House of the Lake. The bodies, hairstyles and garments of the three gods are done in the old archaic style, while the decoration with garlands and bullheads in the upper part of the work are typical of the Hellenistic period.

The large mosaic which covers the entire north wall of the room was found in a house in the Islet of Jewels and was transferred to the museum in 1968 due to its delicate condition. In the center of the mosaic there are three figures: Athena on the left, holding a spear and an owl, Hermes on the right, holding a caduceus, and between them a seated female figure too damaged to be identified. It may have represented Hermes bringing the young Dionysos to the Nymphs. A border with floral motifs, comic masks and bullheads in the four corners, frames the scene. There is also a non-identified portrait in the upper part of the border.

Since you will probably visit Delos from Mykonos it would be a good idea to have a look at Mykonos Travel Guide to learn more about Mykonos Beaches and Hotels in Mykonos.

Ancient Greece Delos Island Museum

Certain exhibitions are temporary, while others are in the process of being assembled. Exhibits may change location. All information given in this book was accurate at the time of going to print. All dates should be read as B.C. (Before Christ), unless stated otherwise.

The Museum of Delos is of considerable significance as it houses a variety of very interesting collections, covering an enormous period of time, from the Early Cycladic Period right up to the Roman times. The visitor is thus able to follow the development of sculpture, ceramic, painting, the art of mosaic, etc, from the workshops of Naxos, Paros, Rhodes, Corinth, Euboia, Crete and Attica, among others. It includes a room with finds related to the everyday life on Delos in the second century B.C., unique in its kind, but also an interesting collection of wall paintings of the same period. Finally, the museum has a special room for temporary exhibitions.

In the entrance lobby there is a very helpful model of the ancient town, a replica of the statue of Diadumenos, which was found in the house of the same name (the original of which is in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens), and a wonderful Ionic corner capital, which probably came from the Porinos Naos.

First room of archaic sculpture

This room houses works of sculpture from the Archaic period (seventh and sixth centuries), mainly Kouroi and Kores, the works of Naxian and Parian artists, which together with those of Athens, Samos and Delphi are the most characteristic of the art of this period, the dawn in other words of monumental Greek sculpture. The Kouroi are statues of young men in their prime, represented nude with long hair falling to the back, arms alongside the torso and with the left leg forward of the other. The Kores or maidens are statues of young, graceful women, shown dressed, with long hair and with one hand outstretched in a gesture of offering. Both, Kouroi and Kores, follow Egyptian prototypes such as the large size, the stiffness in the pose, the left leg forward, and the stylized hair. Both types are characterized by an enigmatic smile and were offerings to male and female deities respectively. The artists of Naxos consciously preferred a harmonious stylization to the more natural representation of the body, and their love of a well-worked curve is apparent. Their kouroi are virtually flat chested, with narrow waists and a slightly protruding abdomen. The artists of Paros, on the other side, showed their preference for more athletic builds, with arms and shoulders slightly drawn back so as to emphasize the strong chest. Both schools, however, conform to the common forms of archaic island sculpture.

Unique among its kind is a triangular base with the left foot of a kouros (A 728). On its three corners are sculptured the head of a ram, the head of a Medusa and the head of a lion. On the left side of the base and between the ram's head and the lion's head there is an inscription written in the Naxian alphabet, which reads: "Eutychartides the Naxian made me and dedicated me" in the bustrophedon writing, that is, beginning from left to right and continuing from right to left in the second line and so on. This is possibly the oldest signature of a sculptor in Greece, and dates back to the second half of the seventh century. The waist and thigh of a kouros (A 333), among the finest of this period, a Naxian work from around the end of the seventh century in gray-blue marble, the surface of which has been marvelously preserved. It wears an elegant belt around the waist (a characteristic of the early kouroi), the muscles are represented in a naturalistic way, and the male member was attached to the statue with a lead link. The testicles are rendered in a realistic way. The left leg was slightly forward and the arms were parallel to the body and attached to the sides, while the hips are reminiscent of those of the Colossus of the Naxians. The hips and thighs of a kouros with the wrist of the left hand (A 4052); the surface in front is damaged as it had been used as building material, but the rear is in very good condition. The buttocks are elegant if rather slim in relation to the rest of the body; a Naxian work of the early sixth century. The wrist of a colossal statue (A 4094), which has been identified by some with the Colossus of the Naxians; however, due to the fact that different material was used and that the wrist was attached to a thigh, in contrast to that of the Colossus of the Naxians, this cannot be true. Moreover, it is known that there was more than one statue of such dimensions on Delos. A kouros (A 4085), the breast of which is similar to that of the Colossus of the Naxians; a Naxian work of the mid 7th century. Another kouros of gray-blue marble (A 4048) with very good rendering of the waist, upper arms and thighs; Naxian workshop, between 560550. Part of a kouros from the shoulders to the knees (A 1742); compare the narrow waist in relation to the breadth of the shoulders. The hair fell in a thin layer down the back; Naxian work of the mid 6th century. The torso of a kouros (A 4083) with a thicker waist than usual; Naxos, mid 6th century. A kouros with a rather thick waist and heavy characteristics (A 4045); Parian work, approx. 580. The upper part of a kouros (A 334), badly worn, with hair drawn back, wearing a belt round the waist, which imitates one of metal; Naxian work, last quarter of the seventh century. A kore (A 4062) wearing a peplos ("mantle") with a meander-like band in the middle of it. Half of her hair fell down her back and half to her chest; Paros, between 580 and 570. A small kouros (A 4051) from shoulders to knees; Naxos, mid 6th century. The statue of a Sphinx (A 583), which was a mythological hybrid creature that had a lion's body, a woman's head and wings (missing). The Sphinx is depicted sitting on her hind legs atop an Ionic capital, once colored. At first sight it is reminiscent of the Sphinx of the Naxians, in Delphi. However, it is the work of an artist from Paros, in Parian marble. Notice the rounded face, the archaic smile, and the hair falling along the back of the neck; from the mid 6th century. Monuments of sphinxes standing on tall Ionic columns were common in the sixth century.

A kore wearing a peplos, with beautiful plaits down the chest (A 4067); Parian work, approx. 520. A statue possibly of a goddess (A 4066), from the end of the sixth century. Four small statues of an enthroned Hera from the Heraion (A 3991 to A 3994); end of the sixth century. A series of statues, representing some of the twelve gods of Mt Olympus: Athena (A 4197), Artemis (A 4077), Apollo (A 4092), Hera enthroned (A 4069) and Zeus (A 4054). Judging from the style and technique, they are obviously from the same set of deities and moreover, they were all found near the Dodecatheon. The fact that their rear side is less finely worked seems to indicate that they were originally positioned in front of a wall; Paros, end of the sixth or early fifth century. On the southwest side of the room there are some marble acroteria with the head of Medusa (A 7677 to A 7682), which come from the roof of the Oikos of the Naxians.

Learn more about Delos island and take a look at Pictures of Mykonos and Delos in order to admire their beauty and since there are no hotels in Delos you should probably have a list of Hotels in Mykonos.