Archaic Greek: A statue of a Kore

A Statue of a Kore

The Archaic Age in Greek history and art was an age of experimentation, including politically, economically, and socially. For example, it was during the Archaic age that Greece established the concept of the polis, and when the oligarchical (rule of a few) government came to being and established a seed for what would later become a democracy in the Classical Age. The age last almost four hundred years, longer than either the Classical/Hellenic or Hellenistic Ages in Ancient Greece's history.
The artistic characteristics of the age include Doric columns, an interest in the human body depicted more natural and lifelike than Egyptian sculptures, and what is known as the "Archaic smile," a slight, calm smile that can be found on most if not all Archaic sculptures. Also, it was quite popular to sculpt a kouros (youth) or kore (maiden). They stand stiffly, but the sculptors attempted to depict them more realistically than ideally, and the maidens were always depicted fully clothed. Compared to Egyptian sculpture, the object in Archaic sculpture was to make their sculpture more real and lifelike than ideal or symbolic. However, these statues also reflected Egyptian influence in their stance.

This particular statue of a kore can be found in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and once  "stood atop the grave of Phrasikleia" and was made by the sculptor Aristion from Paros in 550-540 BC, as the plaque in the museum states. It is an excellent example of Archaic sculpture and perfectly demonstrates the Archaic desire to make their sculptures natural and lifelike, particularly with the remnants of paint still on the sculpture. Archaic sculptures were painted to make them look more lifelike. It also has the typical smile that is characteristic of Archaic sculpture. Her stance is stiff, with one of her hands clutching her dress at her side, and she is fully-clothed. Her hair is stylized and braided, another characteristic of kouros and kore sculptures.

I loved seeing this elegant kore, "one of the most important of the ripe Archaic style," as the plaque says. I particularly like the Greek decorations carved into her garment and hairband: flowers, swastikas, and meanders [there will probably be more on the meander later, as it is a symbol with a meaning unknown and often speculated on]. I found it interesting that her left hand isn't at her side, but is holding up what looks like an acorn, though, according to Wikipedia, is "a still-unopened lotus flower." The lotus flower appears in Greek mythology (such as in the Odyssey), so I found it interesting that she's holding a lotus. It also, in Egyptian mythology, symbolized rebirth and "the new life into which the dead souls had entered" (Flowers in Mythology).

(The plaque in the museum.)