The Amazon is a sculpture of Phidias of the second half of the fifty century BC, known only from Roman copies, among which the best is at the Capitoline Museum in Rome.
The statue was created on the occasion of a competition announced by the Sanctuary of Artemis of Ephesus, around 435 BC. in competition with Policleto, Cresila and Phradmon. Pliny informs us that to win was Policleto, followed by Phidias (third was Kresilas and fourth Phradmon).
The sculptor portrayed her like a young girl dressed in a short sleeveless chiton with a kolpos on her waist, which leaves her bare breast. The drapery, with small folds close together and close to the body, is typical of Fidia, with a “wet effect”. The right arm is raised and the focused look before the jump. Probably the spear was held by both hands and the presence of the bow, which is seen in some copies, would only be a later interpolation.
The face is slightly tilted backwards, with wavy hair scratched in the middle and swollen at the sides. The sculpture also abounds in the decorations, on the left side is the quiver, near the shore is the pelta (shield) and, next to the left foot, the helmet with crest places in the ground.
To request info for this item please use the following form