Acropolis Kore 682, frontal view
| Collection: | Athens, Acropolis Museum |
| Title: | Acropolis Kore 682 |
| Context: | From Athens, Acropolis |
| Findspot: | Excavated at Athens, Acropolis, southwest of the Erechtheum (in 1886) |
| Summary: | Statue of maiden |
| Material: | Marble |
| Sculpture Type: | Free-standing statue: kore |
| Category: | Single sculpture |
| Style: | Late Archaic |
| Technique: | In-the-round |
| Original or Copy: | Original |
| Date: | ca. 525 BC - ca. 500 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. 1.82 including plinth |
| Scale: | Life-size |
| Region: | Attica |
| Period: | Late Archaic |
Subject Description:
Statue of maiden, one of the korai dedicated to Athena on the Acropolis. She is one of the larger ones, though still within the realm of human scale, and also one of the oddest in many ways. Her left leg is advanced, skirt pulled to the left and right arm extended. The himation is drawn under the left breast and arm, revealing the fine cloth of the chiton scored with a pattern of wavy lines. Both garments are elaborately decorated with paint, especially all edges and the center paryphe. Her jewelry is extensive and elaborate. She has a stephane and meniskos. Her hair is among the most intricate in design and carving of all the korai. Her great, long neck is disproportionate to the rest of the body, and like the somewhat skewed eyes and undercut chin, does not suggest the physical details are well-integrated to the whole.
Form & Style: The costume, decoration, wealth of jewelry and elaborate coiffure all suggest a high degree of Ionic style. The face, however, for all its strangeness, might be Attic. Scholars agree only that she is odd. The peculiarities have also led to confusion in the dating. Boardman dates her early in the last quarter of the century, contemporary with Antenor's Kore, with whom she shares many details if nothing in overall impression. Other scholars date her to the end of the century, though there is not a hint of interest in the naturalism beginning to appear in Athens. Ridgway considers her details so unusual that she speculates whether they may represent a deliberate archaism already in the early 5th century. Adam accepts her as an archaic statue of ca. 530 B.C., on the basis of the overall excellence of finish which she considers characteristic of that time.
Condition: Nearly complete
Condition Description: Almost completely preserved; mended from several fragments. Lacking only the left hand, right forearm and some of the drapery swag on her left side. Excellent preservation of surface, including paint.
Material Description: Island Marble
Technique Description: Carved from two separate blocks, joined at the knees with dowels. The ringlets at the ends of the front tresses were also carved separately and added. For other technical points, see Adam, who includes a chapter on this statue.
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