Statuette of a discus thrower

The athlete is depicted just before the final stage of the throw with his right hand. He balances the discus with both hands raised above the head. The inscription “ΚΑΒΙΡΟ” (to Kabeiros) on his left thigh testifies that it was dedicated to the deity worshipped in the sanctuary by an athlete, victor in the throwing of discus, in thanks for his victory. The god Kabeiros and his attendant Pais (Child) were worshipped in their sanctuary in Boeotia. Their mystery cult was connected with young people, who were subjected to trials in order to get fertility and strength.

The throwing of discus was part of pentathlon, introduced in the Olympic Games in 708 BC. Discuses were usually bronze and more rarely lead, iron and stone ones. The differences in the diameter and weight of the discuses are due to the place, where the contests took place, and to the age of the athletes (boys and men).

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  • Athens, National Archaeological Museum, inv. n. Χ 7412
  • Ca 480 – 450 BC
  • H. 0.19 m.
  • Bronze
  • Provenance: Sanctuary of Kabeirion, Boeotia
Bibliography
  • Graef, B. (1890). Das Kabirenheiligtum bei Theben. V. Gegenstände aus Bronze und Blei, AM 15, pp. 365-374.
  • Heilmeyer W. D., Kaltsas, N., Gehrke, H. J., Hatzi, G., & Bocheer, S., (Eds), (2012). Mythos. Olympia Kult und Spiele, pp. 561, no.cat. 15/10 (in N. Palaiokrassa), Berlin: Prestel; Klassische Ausgabe Edition.
  • Καλτσάς, Ν. (Επιμ.), (2004). Αγών, Εθνικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο, 15 Ιουλίου - 31 Οκτωβρίου 2004, 200, αρ. κατ. 89, εικ. 89 (Ρ. Προσκυνητοπούλου), Αθήνα: ΥΠ.ΠΟ.
  • Kaltsas, N. (Ed.), (2004). Agon: The Spirit of Competition in Ancient Greece: an Archaeological Exhibition at the Capital Museum, Beijing, July 31 - October 14, 2008, pp. 169, no. 69 (R. Proskynitopoulou), Athens: Hellenic Minister of Culture.
  • Schmaltz, B, (1979). Metallfiguren aus dem Kabirenheiligtum bei Theben, pp. 154, no. 420, pl. 24, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
  • Thomas, R. (1992). Griechische Bronzestattuetten, pp. 29-30, fig. 18, Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.
Statuette of a discus thrower
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