Discobolus (Discus Thrower)

Even though the sculptor Myron was famous for creating life-like animal sculptures, he also created humans in the midst of action.  His Discobolus or Discus Thrower created during the Early Classical period is no exception.  Originally, this piece was bronze, but we would not have this sculpture if the Romans had not created a marble copy of it due to the unreliability of bronze over time.  This discus thrower has an idealized body that shows an interest in anatomy, but his hair seems to be stuck in the Archaic period with its cap-like treatment.  Although this piece does have one foot in the classical period, it is rather planar, almost like a relief with no background.  The action Myron chooses to sculpt is also rather static because the thrower is frozen at the top of his motion; he is neither moving forward or backward.  This frozen state changes as the Classical period evolves into the Hellenistic period of Greek art.

The Charioteer

Even though the mark of a Greek Classic art piece, the contrapposto, is missing in this bronze sculpture of a Charioteer, the individualized face and feet reflect a break from the Greek Archaic period, and the introduction of something new.  His eyes are made of onyx and his eyelashes and lips are made of copper.  Created merely ten years after the Kritios Boy (link), this charioteer, found at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, is has an idealized body and an expression of extreme concentration.  The inscription commemorates the charioteer for winning the Pythian Games, so this statue is most likely of a real person.