The Charioteer of Delphi
The Charioteer of Delphi is one of the most emblematic art works of ancient classical art. The bronze statue of the so-called “Severe Style” (480-460 BC) depicts a charioteer, youth of noble origin, winner of a horse race in the Panhellenic Pythian Games. The young man wears the typical sleeved tunic, long down to his thin ankles. A broad belt tightens the tunic above waist, and two crossing straps at the back prevent the garment from billowing while the vehicle is speeding. His long fingers are wrapped around the reins and probably the goad. The Charioteer formed part of a larger bronze composition, representing a quadriga and one or two more figures. It was a votive offering of Polyzalos, son of the tyrant of Syracuse Deinomenis.
- Ephorate of Antiquities of Phocis
- Archaeological Museum of Delphi, inv. n. A.M.D. 3484-3520-3540
- Ca 478 – 474 BC
- H. 1.82 m.
- Bronze
- Provenance: Delphi, sanctuary of Apollo
Bibliography
- Amandry, P., Chamoux, Fr. et al., (1991). Guide de Delphes – le Musée, pp. 180-186, Paris: École Française d’Athènes.
- Chamoux, Fr. (1955). L’Aurige. Fouilles de Delphes IV 5, Paris: Ed. de Boccard.
- Dafas, K. (2019). Greek Large-Scale Bronze Statuary. The Late Archaic and Classical Periods, BICS Supplement 138, pp. 24-35, London: Institute of Classical Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London.
- Pouilloux, J. (1960). La Région Nord du Sanctuaire (de l'époque archaïque à la fin du sanctuaire), Fouilles de Delphes II, pp. 89-92, Paris: Ed. de Boccard.
- Pouilloux, J., (1976). Les inscriptions de la terrasse du temple et de la région nord du sanctuaire, nos. 351 à 516, Fouilles de Delphes III 4, no. 452, pp. 120-126, Paris: Ed. de Boccard.
- Rolley, Cl. (1990). En regardant l’Aurige, BCH, 285-297.
