Statue of a Boxer at rest

The Thermae Boxer or the Boxer at Rest is a bronze statue of the Hellenistic period unearthed in 1885 on a slope of the Quirinal Hill in Rome, possibly decorating originally the Baths of Constantine. The statue depicts a mature, muscular athlete, with scars on the face and broken nose, whereas the way his mouth has been rendered indicates that his teeth have been knocked out too. The lips, the bruises on the face, the left shoulder, arm and thigh featured inlaid copper, thereby creating the impression of blood coming out of the wounds. His hands are wrapped in “himantes oxeis”, a type of leather gloves consisting of straps made of hard leather fitted with woolen padding in places for additional protection.

Although originally it was believed that the statue portrayed an existing boxer, perhaps Polydeuces, one of the two Dioscuri, or the mythical boxer Dares who was depicted resting after his victory against Entellus, or Theagenes of Thasos, modern researchers identify in this figure the general boxer type, without any individual features.