In this virtual space we want to deepen one of the most significant aspects of art, the ability to transmit the characterizing values of a civilization even after a long time.
We will examine the two main types of archaic Greek art, the kouroi and the korai statues, raised as votive offerings in honor of the gods in sanctuaries or used as tombstones.
This type of statuary exalts above all physical youth as the culmination of human happiness, but at the same time also its brevity and fragility are evident.
The kouroi, at the singular kouros, “boy”, are Greek sculptures of the archaic period, whose production begins around the middle of the seventh century BC. and whose setting is influenced by the Egyptian statuary and the Near East one.
The kouros depicts a young man, naked, whose perfect anatomical forms correspond to his moral morality, according to the concept of Kalokagathia (“beautiful” kalos and “good” agathos). In an upright position, the arms are along the sides, hands clenched a fist, the left leg slightly advanced.
The korai, at the singular kore, “girl”, are sculptures representing a young woman dressed in a chiton and a himation. The figure is standing, with the feet united; the left arm, along the side, is engaged to support a chiton flap, while the right raises against the chest, holding an offering in the palm of the hand.
Clearly inspired by the Egyptian statuary in the rigid frontality of the figure, in the scheme of the left leg advanced and the arms at the sides and in the reading for planes of the human anatomy, the archaic sculptures reject individual characters in the face, but tend to an absolute idealization of the traits somatic.
Below each article you will find a short summary in English of the topics covered.
Museo virtuale: Kouroi e korai 