Limestone statue of a beardless male votary with a wreath of leaves
Unknown Artist
ca. 550–525 BCE
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 24 × 13 1/8 × 6 1/2 in., 43 lb. (61 × 33.3 × 16.5 cm, 19.5 kg)
Classification
Stone Sculpture
Culture & Period
Cypriot · Cypro-Archaic II
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.2646
Tags
Art Historical Context
This limestone statue depicts a beardless young male votary, or religious devotee, adorned with wreath of leaves crowning his head—a symbol of ritual offering or celebration. Carved around 550–525 BCE during Cyprus's Cypro-Archaic II period it stands about two feet tall (61 × 33.3 × 16.5 cm) and weighs 43 pounds, showcasing the island's skilled stone sculptors who favored durable local limestone for enduring votive figures. In ancient Cypriot sanctuaries, such statues were commonly dedicated to deities like Aphrodite or Apollo, serving as proxies for the worshipper in perpetual prayer. The yo...