Aegina E 5 (Sculpture)

Permalink
Collection:	Munich, Glyptothek
Title:	Aegina, E. Ped. 2, fig. E 5: Herakles
Context:	From Aegina, Sanctuary of Aphaia
Findspot:	Excavated at Aegina, Sanctuary of Aphaia
Summary:	Herakles as archer
Material:	Marble
Sculpture Type:	Architectural
Category:	Statuary group
Placement:	East pediment
Style:	Late Archaic
Technique:	In-the-round
Date:	ca. 490 BC - ca. 480 BC
Dimensions:	H. ca. 0.80 m
Scale:	Life-size
Region:	Saronic Gulf
Period:	Late Archaic
In Group:	Aegina East Pediment 2

Subject Description:

Herakles, immediately identifiable by the lion-headed helmet, kneels facing left. He has already unloosed one arrow at the Dying Warrior in the opposite corner. His body is full of tension as he prepares to shoot another. The left arm is rigidly extended holding the bow, while the right is drawn back ready to release the string. A new and naturalistic note is added by the lifting of the right knee off the ground, leaving the entire weight of the body to balance on the ball of the right foot. The left leg serves primarily to steady the position. The back is vertical. He wears a cuirass over a short chiton. The soft cloth bunches under the left arm and spreads out over the thigh, forming simple doughy-soft folds like those which will appear at Olympia. Its texture contrasts with that of the cuirass, whose stiffness covers the musculature of the torso. The face presents a very unified structure. A short fringe of hair peeks from beneath the helmet around the face and was apparently caught up under it in some fashion in back. Many details were added in marble.

Form & Style:

On the basis of style Ohly attributes Herakles and the Right Helper E4 to the same hand, whom he calls the Herakles Master.

Condition: Nearly complete

Condition Description: Most of the figure preserved, excluding the lower left leg and lower right arm.

Material Description:

Parian Marble

Associated Building: Aegina, Temple of Aphaia