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The Origins of the Kouros

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The Origins of the Kouros THE ORIGINS OF THE KOUROS By REBECCA ANN DUNHAM A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2005 Copyright 2005 by Rebecca Ann Dunham This document is dedicated to my mom. TABLE OF CONTENTS page LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... vi ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1 DEFINITION OF THE KOUROS TYPE ....................................................................1 Pose...............................................................................................................................2 Size and material...........................................................................................................2 Nudity ...........................................................................................................................3 Body Shape and Treatment of Musculature .................................................................3 Execution ......................................................................................................................4 Function ........................................................................................................................5 Provenances ..................................................................................................................7 Variations......................................................................................................................8 Motivation for creation.................................................................................................9 2 INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT IN GREEK ART .............................................19 Interest in the Human Body........................................................................................19 Influence of Greek Armor ..........................................................................................20 Aniconic Statuary .......................................................................................................21 The Orientalizing Period and Daedalic Style .............................................................22 Summary.....................................................................................................................25 3 NEAR EASTERN INFLUENCE...............................................................................36 Part One: Near Eastern Origin of the Kouros.............................................................36 Assyria.................................................................................................................36 Syria.....................................................................................................................41 Lydia....................................................................................................................43 Phoenicia .............................................................................................................45 Part Two: Historical Argument for Near Eastern Influence.......................................48 Literary Evidence for Greeks in the Near East....................................................48 Archaeological Evidence for Greeks in the Near East: Al Mina.........................49 Location and history of excavations.............................................................49 Pottery and other finds .................................................................................51 iv Structures......................................................................................................53 Function of Al Mina.....................................................................................55 Archaeological Evidence for Greeks in the Near East: Tell Sukas .....................57 Location and history of excavations.............................................................57 Pottery, finds, and structures........................................................................58 Function of Tell Sukas .................................................................................59 Archaeological Evidence for Greeks in the Near East: Minor Sites ...................59 Part Three: Other Exchanges between Greece and the Near East..............................61 Part Four: Summary....................................................................................................62 4 EGYPTIAN INFLUENCE.........................................................................................76 Part One: Egyptian Origin of the Kouros ...................................................................76 Part Two: Historical Argument for Egyptian Influence .............................................84 Literary Evidence for Greeks in Egypt................................................................84 Archaeological evidence for Greeks in Egypt: Naukratis ...................................89 Location and history of excavations.............................................................89 Pottery ..........................................................................................................90 Sculpture.......................................................................................................91 Structures......................................................................................................93 Function of Naukratis...................................................................................95 Archaeological Evidence for Greeks in Egypt: Minor Sites ...............................96 Part Three: Summary..................................................................................................97 5 CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................................111 APPENDIX: CATALOGUE OF KOUROI.....................................................................118 LIST OF REFERENCES.................................................................................................129 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ...........................................................................................139 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 1-1. Front view of New York kouros.................................................................................11 1-2. Kleobis and Biton .......................................................................................................11 1-3. Anavysos kouros.........................................................................................................12 1-4. Right side view of New York kouros. ........................................................................12 1-5. Front view of New York kouros.................................................................................13 1-6. Left side view of New York kouros. ..........................................................................13 1-7. Back view of New York kouros .................................................................................14 1-8. Right side view of New York kouros .........................................................................13 1-9. Front view of kouros, from Thera ..............................................................................15 1-10. Back view of kouros, from Thera.............................................................................15 1-11. Front view of kouros torso, from Thera ...................................................................16 1-12. Back view of kouros torso, from Thera....................................................................16 1-13. Upper torso of kouros, from Delos...........................................................................17 1-14. Lower torso of kouros, from Delos ..........................................................................17 1-15. Map of Ancient Greek world....................................................................................18 2-1. Plastron of a bell-corselet, from Argos.......................................................................27 2-2. Dos of a bell-corselet, from Argos .............................................................................27 2-3. Plastron of a bell-corselet, from Olympia ..................................................................28 2-4. Dos of a bell-corselet, from Olympia .........................................................................28 2-5. Greaves .......................................................................................................................29 vi 2-6. Apollo, from Dreros ...................................................................................................29 2-7. Syrian relief plaque of Astarte....................................................................................30 2-8. Relief plaque of woman..............................................................................................31 2-9. Front view of Lady of Auxerre...................................................................................32 2-10. Left side view of Lady of Auxerre ...........................................................................32 2-11. Back view of Lady of Auxerre .................................................................................33 2-12. Right side view of Lady of Auxerre .........................................................................33
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