1. The Riace Warriors (Riace Bronzes)

2. Basic Information They are thought to have been sculpted around 460-430 BC which places them in the early to middle classical period. Two statues: ‘A’ and ‘B’. ‘A’ thought to be the younger and ‘B’ the older. They were discovered off the coast of Riace by a scuba-diving chemist on August 16 1972.

3. Basic Information Currently in the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria, Italy. One of the only original bronze statues that survived the dark ages, most bronze statues only survive in Roman marble copies. It is widely believed that there would have been other ‘warriors’ in this set.

4. The Statues: A Warrior A looks younger and appears Athenian. Head tilted to the side gives the statue an increased sense of realism. Mouth open seems to show capturing of a moment rather than a pose, as if the statue is frozen mid-speech.

5. The Statues: B Made of Bronze and other materials. Eyes made of bone and glass. Lips and nipples made of copper. Right: Statue B. Very detailed, realistic beard and is wearing a cap shows he’s possibly Corinthian.

6. The Statues They are both in contrapossto poses. Adds realism. It has been suggested that their torso’s were made from the same mould and slightly altered. Would have been carrying shields.

7. Development Presented the move into ‘perfect’ statues, with a pose that was so life like Woodford writes “The figure may be still, but it is alive with potential energy”. These statues are perfect example of the contrapossto technique, its development and arguably, its perfection.

8. Technique Whilst statue A hair at the top of his head is etched into the bronze, the ringlets below the headband are carved separately and attached afterwards. Made in the typical bronze fashion of wax moulding.

9. Quotes “His upper body is largely unresponsive to the different degrees of tension in the two arms. The alert turn of the head, however, counteracts any impression of static immobility.” “The rejection of the symmetry of the kouros is no longer haphazard but calculated.”