Myron
Myron was an influential ancient Greek sculptor from Boeotia, renowned for his exceptional ability to depict the male body in motion, particularly in the context of athletic contests. A student of Ageladas, Myron's work is characterized by a blend of masculinity and grace, setting him apart in the realm of classical sculpture. His most famous piece, the Discobolos (Discus Thrower), completed around 450 BCE, is celebrated for its dynamic representation of an athlete in action, although only marble copies remain. He is also known for the now-lost statue of Ladas, which captured a runner's victory at the 476 BCE Olympiad, and for notable works such as Athena and Marysas, as well as a remarkably realistic depiction of a heifer. Myron’s contributions marked a significant departure from the rigid styles of earlier periods, helping to pave the way for the evolution of Greek sculpture into the more realistic forms of the fifth century BCE and beyond. His artistic legacy continued through his son, Lycius, who was his sole pupil.
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Subject Terms
Myron
Related civilization: Classical Greece
Major role/position: Sculptor
Life
Little is known of Myron’s (MI-ron) early life other than that he was born in Boeotia, which lacked the cultural refinement of neighboring Attica but excelled in the athletic contests at both Delphi and Olympia with superb displays of the human body in action. Becoming a pupil of Ageladas (Hageladas), director of a metal-casting school and a master of athletic sculpture, Myron achieved a reputation throughout the Hellenic lands, becoming noted for his statues of athletes, which combined masculinity with grace. No other sculptor in history has rivaled Myron in portraying the male body in action. His best-known work the Discobolos, or Discus Thrower, of which only marble copies survive, was completed about 450 b.c.e. His Ladas, of which no copies survive, showing a runner at the 476 b.c.e. Olympiad at his moment of victory, was even more admired. Other famous works include Athena and Marysas and an incredibly realistic Heifer. His only pupil was his son Lycius.
Influence
By radically departing from the rigidity and prescribed format of sixth century b.c.e. Greek sculpture, Myron became a major force responsible for bridging the gap between Archaic Greek sculpture and its full development in the fifth century b.c.e. His emphasis on realism anticipated both Hellenistic and Roman sculpture.
Bibliography
Boardman, John. Greek Art. London: Thames and Hudson, 1996.
Gardner, Ernest A. Six Greek Sculptors. New York: Ayer, 1977.