THE
PALAIKASTRO KOUROS
LM IB, c. 1500 B.C..................
This is a lithochryselephantine
(stone-gold-ivory) statuette measuring ~0.50 m (~20") in height. It was
found near the modern town of Palaikastro
on the eastern coast of Crete. Presently it resides in the Siteia
Museum. Above you see a detail of the left arm exempli- fying the
wonderful skill and naturalism accomplished by its artist. Below are frontal,
profile and exploded views. Though sketchy, the latter shows eight separate
pieces of ivory, two rock crystal eyes, a serpentine head and gold sandal
soles.
Below are the
fragments of gold found with the other fragments of the kouros. To determine
scale, note that grid paper's actual size is 26 cm across; each dark square
= 1 sq. cm.
