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  Magna Graecia: Greek Art From South Italy and Sicily > About the Exhibition > Syracuse > Ephebe (Youth) of Mendolito (about 460 BC)
 
 
Ephebe (Youth) of Mendolito (about 460 BC)
Mendolito, Adrano
Bronze, cast, incised
Museo Archeologico Regionale "Paolo Orsi" di Siracusa, inv. 31888
[Cat. no. 52]

Ephebe (Youth) of Mendolito (about 460 BC)

In this cast bronze statuette of a nude athlete, scholars recognize the work of the sculptor Pythagoras of Rhegium (active 480-430 BC). The sophisticated pose of the figure shows the weight shifted to the right hip, as the hands are held out, away from the body. The statuette probably once held in its right hand a shallow dish (phiale) from which it poured an offering (libation) to a god or gods. The hollow eyes were originally inlayed, perhaps with glass paste. The extremely subtle and organic modeling of the body contrasts with the more schematic treatment of the face. As evident in this statuette, Pythagoras of Rhegium expressed the internal emotional states of his sculpted figures.

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