The Riace Warriors, A Fine Pair of Cold-Cast Copper and Resin Replica Figures

The finely executed pair of sculptures with fine attention to detail are reduced replicas of the original 5th Century BC bronze statues which were made in Ancient Greece and discovered in 1972, are named simply Statue A (dated to 460-450 BC) and Statue B (dated to 430-430 BCE). They are prime examples of the transition period between the Archaic and early Classical styles of Greek sculpture. The original statues may come from a group of statues representing the legend of the Seven Against Thebes at Argos or they may depict Athenian warriors in the Battle of Marathon monument at Delphi. Both figures are nude, bearded males portrayed in contrapposto poses with their weight on their back legs.

Vacationing Roman chemist Stefano Mariottini was snorkeling off the coast of Calabria, near Riace, in 1972 when he saw an arm sticking out of the sand at the bottom of the sea. When he touched it, he realized it was made of metal, and he called the police. Mariottini had stumbled upon two 5th Century BCE bronze statues made in Ancient Greece, in near perfect condition. How the sculptures arrived at Riace is unclear: they may have been booty from the Roman occupation of Greece, or perhaps they were being brought to a Greek temple in Italy. Their eyes were made of calcite, the teeth of silver and lips and nipples of copper. They are missing their spears and shields, as well as helmets or other headgear. The sculptor has included so many realistic features that the idealized geometry and anatomical anomalies are not obvious.

Overall height: 19 3/4 inches (50.2 cm)
Width: 8 inches (20.3 cm)
Depth: 6 inches (15.3 cm)
Base: 6 inches by 6 inches (15.3 cm x 15.3 cm)