Top: Musical contest of Apollo with Marsyas; Bottom left: Square relief de...
Musical contest of Apollo with Marsyas
| Collection: | Athens, National Archaeological Museum |
| Title: | Apollo and Marsyas Relief |
| Context: | From Mantinea |
| Findspot: | Found at Mantinea (in August 1887) |
| Summary: | Musical contest of Apollo and Marsyas |
| Object Function: | Cult |
| Sculptor: | Attributed to the school of Praxiteles |
| Material: | Marble |
| Sculpture Type: | Statue base, relief-decorated |
| Category: | Separated fragments |
| Style: | Late Classical |
| Technique: | Medium relief |
| Original or Copy: | Original |
| Date: | ca. 330 BC - ca. 320 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. 0.97 m, L. 1.38 m |
| Scale: | Under life-size |
| Region: | Arcadia |
| Period: | Late Classical |
| In Whole: | Mantinea statue base |
Subject Description:
On the left sits Apollo, on a rock facing to the right, holding a kithara. In the center stands a Scythian wearing a long-sleeved, knee-length, betled tunic, trousers, and a Persian cap, holding a knife in his hand, with which he is about to flay Marsyas. Marsyas, bearded, balding, and nude, is at right, playing a double pipe which he holds with both hands, and lunging slightly to the right.
Condition: Complete
Condition Description: This one (of perhaps four original plaques) is perhaps the best preserved, comprised of a single pieces, cracked in the upper right corner, somewhat scratched and stained, missing some detail (eroded away) on the faces.
Sources Used: