Piraeus Apollo

The Piraeus Apollo is an archaic-style bronze dating from the 6th century BC, possibly from the years 530–520 BC, exhibited now at the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, Athens.

Head of Piraeus Apollo

Side-back view of Piraeus Apollo

Piraeus Apollo. Archaic-style bronze. Archaeological Museum of Piraeus

The Piraeus Apollo is a product of the late archaic period (530–480 BC), and is among the few bronzes from that time period have survived. It is also thought to be a very rare survival of a piece that may have been actually used as the cult image in a Greek temple. In the last few decades of the 6th century, the philosophical mystic currents were to have a considerable influence on late archaic art. The logical move from Ionian natural philosophy to metaphysics was the conscious decision of post-archaic mind.[1] In post-archaic period, the illusive imaginative reality was displaced by harmony and symmetry.

The method of interaction and analogy was perfected by Polykleitos in classical period. He used the principle of continuity and in his famous sculptures each member transmitted to the next a part of his existence; therefore there was an harmonious analogy with the rest of the parts. It seems that his canon (κανών: norm, standard) was a standardization which in his opinion led to the ideal form.[2] The discovery of the perfect mathematical relation was a continuous attempt of the Greek architects.