Download bust of perikles

BUST OF PERIKLES
WHERE’S HIS BODY?
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our set piece is a herm which is a
square pillar topped with a head.
Herms stood at the crossroads in
Greek cities as protective guardians.
they became popular as garden
decorations and supports for portraits
in Roman times.
our set piece is one of several Roman
copies of the bronze original.
our piece has an inscription –
“Perikles son of Xanthippos’
WHO WAS PERIKLES?
Athenian politician.
 Athenian general.
 extremely popular
leader in Athens.
 heavily involved in
the building
programme atop
the Athenian
Akropolis.
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The original was probably by Kresilas and stood
in the Akropolis. Originally it would have been a
nude bronze statue holding a spear.
Perikles is shown as a
general but with some
individual features are
included:
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helmet is shown
pushed up off his face,
curly hair,
full lips,
fully bearded man.
he has a particularly
long head which is
visible through the
eye-holes of his
Corinthian helmet.
 the slight tilt of the
head may have
been a
characteristic pose.
 the work is
generalised and
idealised making it
typical of the
Classical period.
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Pliny (a Roman historian) says of the piece:
“it is indeed a marvellous thing
how in this art noble men
are made to appear more nobler”