Athens, NM 1826 (Sculpture)

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Collection:	Athens, National Archaeological Museum
Title:	Copy of Diadoumenos
Context:	From Delos
Findspot:	Excavated at Delos (1890)
Summary:	Athlete binding his hair with a fillet
Object Function:	Unknown
Material:	Marble
Sculpture Type:	Free-standing statue
Category:	Original/copies
Style:	Classical
Technique:	In-the-round
Original or Copy:	Copy
Original:	Diadoumenos
Date:	ca. 100 BC
Dimensions:	H 1.95m
Scale:	Life-size
Region:	Cyclades
Period:	Late Hellenistic

Subject Description: A nude male athlete raises both arms to bind a taenia (fillet) around his hair. He leans his weight on his straight right leg, and bends his left leg, which he turns slightly to his left, but turns his head down to the right. The strut next to the right leg (a tree trunk with a garment draped on it) was added by the Roman copyist.

Condition: Intact

Condition Description:

Lower arms and hands missing; nose and top of head restored; slightly chipped.

Collection History: Found on Delos in 1890.

Other Notes: The quiver on the support may indicate a connection of this copy with Apollo (a divine patron of the site and the games there) but earlier suggestions that the Diadoumenos was a statue of Apollo (Hauser 1909, 100) are otherwise unfounded, and are contradicted by the evidence of tokens of victory found on images of the statue on gems and amphora handles (as noted by Richter). For a description of tying a taenia around the head as a sign of victory, see Paus. 5.11.3, Paus. 6.45, Paus. 9.22.3.

Sources Used: Stewart 1990, figs. 383-85; Boardman 1985a, 186a; Karouzou 1968, 86

Other Bibliography: E. La Rocca, ASAtene 50/51 (1975) 424; P.C. Bol, AM Beih. 2 (1972) 102, 117