Title
Preview
Class Name and Date
Art 230: Ancient Art. Fall 2015
Format Type
Sculpture
Time Period
Geometric Greek
Theme
Geometric Grave Markers
Media
Marble
Dimensions
H. 5' 9''
Description
640 BC
The Kore from Delos is an example of a type of kouros or kore sculpture popular during
the Geometric, Orientalizing, and Archaic periods of Greek art. A kore statue is the female
version of a kouros statue, kouros meaning youth. These statues were used as 1 grave markers and
typically stood at roughly life sized. This particular kore is stylistically characteristic of the time,
fitting within the canon. The figure is clearly carved from a rectangular block and the self
contained form and composition of the body are closely controlled by this. This can be seen in
the arms straight down by the side, the columnar legs, and upright stance. These verticals are
accented by the pronounced horizontals at the shoulders, waist, and base which links the piece
back to the previous period, Geometric Greece.2 The frontal and frozen pose with triangular face
and highly stylized and artificial hair are other stylistic features which help to mark it from this
period of Greek art.3 Later pieces will begin to show more of a focus on movement and
naturalism with a keen observation of body composition and how movement affects the body.
Despite the damage to her arms and general wear on her face and hands, identification of
this piece is made easier by an inscription on the side of her skirt which reads: “Nikandre
1 Dr. Sarah Archino. "Archaic Art." Lecture, Art 230 Ancient
Art I, Greenville, November, 2015.
2† John Griffiths Pedley. "The Orientalizing Period." In Greek†Art†and†Archaeology† , 121145.
5th ed. Upper Saddle
River: Pearson, 2012.
3† Dr. Sarah Archino. "Archaic Art." Lecture, Art 230 Ancient
Art I, Greenville, November, 2015.
dedicated me to the Far Darter, the Arrow Shooter, outstanding of women, daughter of
Deinodikes of Naxos, sister of Deinomenes, wife of Phraxos.” This states 4 Nikandre as the
person the statue was created for but leaves in question who the statue might be depicting. The
statue was found near the Temple of Artemis5 and so it could represent Nikandre as a type of
votive offering to the goddess Artemis or a generic figure to fill that same votive role, yet it
could even have been a depiction of Artemis herself. This also begins to call into question the
function of the piece. Is it truly a kore, a gravemarker figure, or was it meant as a votive statue
and named a kore before its true function was discovered. The inscription leaves this up for some
debate. Something interesting to note though is the focus on the male family members as a way
of identifying Nikandre. This both places an attention on family as well as the patriarchal nature
of the society. If the statue is a depiction of Nikandre herself then the inclusion of these names
seems more fitting and seems to point away from the reading of the figure as a generic votive
figure. No matter who is actually being depicted, these men listed would have had significantly
more control in the creation of the statue than Nikandre.6
4 John Griffiths Pedley. "The Orientalizing Period." In Greek†Art†and†Archaeology† , 121145.
5th ed. Upper Saddle
River: Pearson, 2012.
5† John Griffiths Pedley. "The Orientalizing Period." In Greek†Art†and†Archaeology† , 121145.
5th ed. Upper Saddle
River: Pearson, 2012.
6 Nikandre Statue." CCIV 214 Online Museum of Greek Art & Archaeology.
Bibliography
Archino, Sarah, Dr. "Archaic Art." Lecture, Art 230 Ancient
Art I, Greenville, November,
2015.
Griffiths Pedley, John. "The Orientalizing Period." In Greek†Art†and†Archaeology†, 121145.
5th
ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2012.
"NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF ATHENS OFFICIAL
SITE."
NATIONAL
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF ATHENS OFFICIAL
SITE. Accessed
November 10, 2015.
http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/archaic/archaic01en.
html .
"Nikandre Statue." CCIV 214 Online Museum of Greek Art & Archaeology. Accessed
December 7, 2015. http://cciv214fa2012.site.wesleyan.edu/archaicperiod/
exhibit1/
.