Relief depicting a dancing female figure

Dancing Horai Reliefs

Collection: Athens, National Archaeological Museum
Title: Dancing Horai Relief
Context: From Athens, Acropolis (S. Slope)
Findspot: Found at Athens, Theater of Dionysos (in 1862)
Summary: One of three (?) reliefs (from a tripod base?) showing dancing Horai
Material: Marble
Sculpture Type: Tripod base?
Category: Statuary group
Style: Late Classical
Technique: Low relief
Original or Copy: Original
Date: ca. 100 BC - ca. 31 BC
Dimensions: H. 1.01 m; W. 0.64 m; Th. 0.20 m
Scale: Under life-size
Region: Attica
Period: Late Hellenistic

Subject Description: A dancing nymph (probably one of the Horai, or Seasons) advances, on tip toe, near profile to the left, while she turns her head back in near profile. She is completely covered (including her head) in a himation, which she draws forward with her lowered left hand, and pulls from her face with her upraised right hand.

Form & Style: The relief, and a corresponding plaque, Athens, NM 259, are somewhat concave, which suggests that they belonged to a three-sided tripod base.

Condition: Fragmentary

Condition Description: Missing only the lower left corner of the relief.

Associated Building: Athens, Theater of Dionysos

Sources Used: Karouzou 1968, 191-92; Svoronos 1903-12, 239-41, pl. 32 (left)