The Olympics in Ancient Art

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1. THE DISCOBOLUS

Roman bronze reduction of Myron's Discobolus, 2nd century AD (Glyptothek, Munich).

The discus-thrower (Gk. discobolus) has become the iconic image of the Olympic Games, and a fantastic representation of the athletic ideal. The original Greek statue was cast in bronze in the mid-fifth century BC and continued to be much admired as a masterpiece into Roman times, when several copies were made before the original was lost. Thus the Discobolus image lives- on today as one of the most famous sculptures from ancient times.

The original Discobolus is attributed to the Greek sculptor Myron, a contemporary of Pheidias and Polykleitos and famous in antiquity for his representations of athletes. His discus-thrower was admired not only for the way it conveys movement and action in a single pose, but also for capturing Greek ideals about proportion, harmony, rhythm and balance. Experts since antiquity have noted how the fluidity of movement in the body combines with a calm expression on the face, as if the thrower has achieved a perfect state of control in mind, body and spirit. Or did Myron's desire for perfection lead him to suppress the thrower's emotions?

Roman versions of the Discobolus adorned numerous villas as a symbol of the cultured taste and status of the owner. One of the most famous is the Palombara Discobolus from Rome, now on display in the National Museum of Rome. This statue was notoriously sold to Adolf Hitler in 1938 as a trophy of the Aryan race, but returned to Italy in 1948.

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The Townley Discobolus, on display in the British Museum.

Another Roman version, known as the Townley Discobolus, was pictured on the official poster for the London Olympics in 1948. It is now in the British Museum.

HIDDEN HISTORY RECOMMENDS:

Video: British Museum video on the Townley Discobolus by Senior Curators Judith Swaddling and Ian Jenkins. Click Here...

Framed Print: Various sizes from £20. British Museum shop. Click here.

Replicas: A beautifully made and satisfyingly large bronze example is available to order from the British Museum shop. Click here.. A miniature is also available in pewter. Click here

Book: "The Discobolus" by Ian Jenkins. London, The British Museum Press, 2012. This concise and beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the Discobolus both as an archaeological artefact and bearer of meaning. Only £5.00. Click here..

Tour: Visit the site of the original Olympic games on Hidden History's tour of ancient Greece. Click here...

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