Ancient Greek Sculpture

Ancient Greek Sculpture includes statues and reliefs created for sanctuaries, civic spaces, graves and private settings. Archaic sculptors developed recognizable standing figures; Classical artists explored balanced poses, bodily proportion and controlled movement; Hellenistic workshops extended the range of subjects and emotional expression. These approaches coexisted with local traditions and deliberate revivals of earlier styles. Marble and bronze were major materials, and many sculptures originally included colour or additional fittings. Works associated with Phidias, Polykleitos and Myron show different responses to sacred and athletic subjects. Much evidence for lost Greek bronze statuary survives through Roman copies, which must be distinguished from original works.