Collection: Athens, National Archaeological Museum
Title: Head of Kouros from Ptoon Sanctuary
Context: From Ptoon, near Thebes
Findspot: Found at Sanctuary of Ptoan Apollo, at Perdikovrysi, near Thebes (in 1885)
Summary: Head and part of the neck of a youthful male figure
Object Function: Votive?
Material: Limestone
Sculpture Type: Free-standing statue: kouros
Category: Separated fragments
Style: High Archaic
Technique: In-the-round
Original or Copy: Original
Date: ca. 580 BC
Dimensions: H. 0.33 m
Scale: Life-size
Region: Boeotia
Period: High Archaic


Subject Description: The wavy locks of hair fall directly back from the forehead, down the back. They are fastened with a thick, flat, taenia, or hairback, in front of which short, straight locks of hair, parted slightly in the middle, cover the brow. The face is roughly triangular, with high arched eyebrows, large, almond-shaped eyes that point down towards the nose, a small triangular nose, and thin broad lips.

Condition: Head only (complete)

Condition Description: The head is broken off at the top of the neck, and has been restored on the left side. The face has some dark adhesions, especially on the left side, and much of the chin has been chipped off.

Material Description: Whitish, probably Boeotian limestone

Sources Used: Boardman 1978a, fig. 68; Richter 1970b, 48 no. 10, figs. 72-75

Other Bibliography: Boardman 1978, fig. 68; Kastriotis 1908, no. 15; Deonna 1909, no. 35; M. Holleaux, BCH 10 (1886) 98 ff., pl. 5