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Museum of Classical Archaeology Databases

Vaison Diadumenos

This sculpture was only recognised as a copy of a bronze original by Polykleitos in 1869, seven years after it was discovered. It was one of the sculptures selected, in replica form, to decorate the roof of the National Museum in Athens.

It shows an athlete binding a diadem around his head with ribbons, signifying victory in athletic competition. It has been suggested that Apollo is represented, or the Trojan Paris. Apart from the arrangement of the arms, the relaxed pose is very similar to the Doryphoros.

This cast is of a Roman copy, which seems to have had the sides of his head subsequently smoothed down for some unknown reason

Number: 
185
Material: 
Marble
Location of Original: 

London, British Museum 500

Size: 
1.85m
Accession: 

Donation by H. Sidgwick 29 May 1880 to the Fitzwilliam Museum. Transferred to the Museum in 1884. Originally obtained from Brucciani of London

References: 

Lippold: Griechische Plastik, 166 (n.6)
Richter: Sculpture & Sculptors of the Greeks (1950), 249-250, fig.650 (copy)
Walston: Catalogue of Casts in the Museum of Classical Archaeology (1889), 65, no.290
Lawrence: Classical Sculpture (1928), pl. 63

Date: 
Roman. Original: c.430 BCE
Sculptor: 
Of original: Polykleitos
Provenance: 

Body found in the Roman Theatre in Vaison in southern France in 1862; the head was found a kilometre away

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