Torso of a Kouros

A half life-size figure of a kouros (male youth) stands frontally, with his left leg placed in front of the right. Although broken at the neck and below the mid-thigh, the torso features broad shoulders, developed pectoral muscles, and well-defined buttocks. The left hand holds a partridge type of bird to the chest; the right arm is held rigidly at the side with the hand clenched into a fist. Kouroi often had long hair, and here the ends of long locks are preserved on the upper back of the statue. This kouros wears a relatively simple costume consisting of a himation (cloak) over a long tunic. Weathering and abrasion of the marble have removed most of the surface detail from the statue, but some elements are still visible, including a double incised line decorating the edge of the cloak.

The rounded muscular body of this kouros, his delicately sculpted fingers, and the smooth carving of his clinging garment identify the statue as the product of an East Greek workshop. While most kouroi are portrayed nude, a few dozen clothed examples survive. Kouroi from sites on the Greek mainland were depicted nude, with an emphasis on the figure’s youthfulness, athletic build, and vitality. The majority of the clothed kouroi come from the East Greek colonies of Asia Minor (present-day western Turkey), reflecting a regional preference. Similar examples have been discovered at Didyma and in the vicinity of Miletos. The Getty’s kouros is also unique in holding a bird as a sacrificial offering. While there are just a few kouroi holding sacrificial victims, all known examples are from East Greece.