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Dipylon Head

The Kerameikos was the potters’ quarter of ancient Athens, but part of it near the Dipylon Gate was also an important cemetery. This larger than life head was found there so it is safe to assume it is from a memorial statue. An accompanying hand was discovered some years afterwards.

This head is one of a number of Archaic sculptures called the Sunium Group, and may be the products of the same workshop. They all have the characteristic big eyes, long face and stylised features; the ears resemble those of the Sunium Kouros, for example

Number: 
7
Material: 
Marble
Location of Original: 

Athens National Museum 3372

Size: 
0.44m
Accession: 

Purchased from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen in 1933

References: 

Lippold: Griechische Plastik, 38; pl. 8.2
Buschor, E, Frühgriechische Jünglinge (1950): 11-14
Matz: Geschichte der Griechische Kunst, 185, pls. 96-98
Richter, Kouroi: 73, no.6, pl. XIV, 46-49
Stewart: Greek Sculpture, 111, pls. 47-8

Date: 
c.600 BCE
Provenance: 

Found near the Dipylon Gate in Athens in 1911

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