The pugilist - hands
[description from museum panel]
The athelete, seated on a boulder, is resting after a boxing match. The boulder is a modern addition that replicates the ancient original.
The face, ears, and nose are severaly wounded by blows received during the match. No wounds appear on the body, since ancient boxing practices made the face the main target.
The boxer is only wearing a sort of loin cloth (kynodésme) around the waist. Elaborate leather gloves (himàntes oxèis) protect the hands and forearms. They consist of thick leather straps that bind the four fingers, leaving the thumb free. On the forearms the gloves are bordered with fur lining.
A series of marks on the straps above the left ring finger seems to be the signature of the Athenian sculptor Apollonios, son of Nestor, was was active during the 1st century BC. Careful analysis shows that the marks are actually corrosions of the bronze surface.
The letter α is impressed on the middle toe of the left foot and is probably a mark identifying the workshop that produced the statue.
On the right foot the letter A was later incised with a chisel and could be a later inventory mark.
The statue of the boxer is of the highest quality for the detailed rendition of the overall athletic anatomy and of the facial features. The artist was clearly inspired by the style of the Greek sculptor Lysippus and scholars generally consider it an original Greek bronze of the 1st century BC.
The pugilist - hands
[description from museum panel]
The athelete, seated on a boulder, is resting after a boxing match. The boulder is a modern addition that replicates the ancient original.
The face, ears, and nose are severaly wounded by blows received during the match. No wounds appear on the body, since ancient boxing practices made the face the main target.
The boxer is only wearing a sort of loin cloth (kynodésme) around the waist. Elaborate leather gloves (himàntes oxèis) protect the hands and forearms. They consist of thick leather straps that bind the four fingers, leaving the thumb free. On the forearms the gloves are bordered with fur lining.
A series of marks on the straps above the left ring finger seems to be the signature of the Athenian sculptor Apollonios, son of Nestor, was was active during the 1st century BC. Careful analysis shows that the marks are actually corrosions of the bronze surface.
The letter α is impressed on the middle toe of the left foot and is probably a mark identifying the workshop that produced the statue.
On the right foot the letter A was later incised with a chisel and could be a later inventory mark.
The statue of the boxer is of the highest quality for the detailed rendition of the overall athletic anatomy and of the facial features. The artist was clearly inspired by the style of the Greek sculptor Lysippus and scholars generally consider it an original Greek bronze of the 1st century BC.