In 1972, Stefano
Mariottini, then a chemist from Rome, discovered two bronze statues of male Greek
warriors. According to Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riace_bronzes
, Stefano Mariottini “chanced upon the bronzes while snorkelling near the end
of a vacation at Monasterace. While diving some 200 metres from the coast of
Riace, at a depth of six to eight metres, Mariottini noticed the left arm of
statue A emerging from the sand. At first, he thought he had found a dead human
body, but on touching the arm he realized it was a bronze arm. Mariottini began
to push the sand away from the rest of statue A. Later, he noticed the presence
of another bronze nearby and decided to call the police. One week later, on
August 21, statue B was taken out of the water, and two days after that it was
the turn of statue A. No associated wreck site has been identified, but in the
immediate locality, which is a subsiding coast, architectural remains have also
been found.” Wikipedia says, “The Riace bronzes, also called the Riace
Warriors, are two full-size Greek bronzes of naked bearded warriors, cast about
460–450 BC that were found in the sea near Riace in 1972. The bronzes are
currently located at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in the southern
Italian city of Reggio Calabria, Italy. They are two of the few surviving
full-size ancient Greek bronzes (which were usually melted down in later
times), and as such demonstrate the superb technical craftsmanship and
exquisite artistic features that were achieved at this time.” Further, “Although
the bronzes were rediscovered in 1972, they did not emerge from conservation
until 1981. Their public display in Florence and Rome was the cultural event of
that year in Italy, providing the cover story for numerous magazines. Now
considered one of the symbols of Calabria, the bronzes were commemorated by a
pair of Italian postage stamps and have also been widely reproduced.” And “The
two bronze sculptures are simply known as “Statue A”, referring to the one
portraying a younger warrior, and “Statue B”, indicating the more
mature-looking of the two. Statue A is 203 centimetres tall while Statue B
stands 196.5 centimetres tall. The most popular theory is that two separate
Greek artists created the bronzes about 30 years apart around the 5th century
BC. “Statue A” was probably created between the years 460 and 450 BC, and
“Statue B” between 430 and 420 BC. Some believe that “Statue A” was the work of
Myron, and that a pupil of Phidias, called Alkamenes, created “Statue B”.
Statue A portrays a young warrior hero or god with a proud look, conscious of
his own beauty and power. Statue B, on the other hand, portrays an older more
mature warrior hero with a relaxed pose and a kind and gentle gaze.”
Monday, August 7, 2017
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