Damoxenos

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This is a replica of the Damoxenos sculpture from the Antonio Canova Museum, while the original resides in the Octagonal Courtyard of the Vatican Museums. Alongside the Creugas of Durres statue, this piece recreates the legendary tale of two boxers who clashed during the Nemean Games. According to lore, these pugilists were evenly matched, with their competition lasting for hours without a clear winner. Eventually, both men agreed to deliver a single, undefended blow to each other. Creugas struck Damoxenos on the head first, but Damoxenos countered by striking Creugas in the side and ripping out his intestines. The Argives disqualified Damoxenos for killing his opponent, and Creugas was posthumously declared the winner. Canova began working on preliminary sketches of these subjects in 1795, with both models ready a year later in 1796. In 1801, he completed the marble statue of Creugas, while in 1802, Pope Pius VII purchased all three statues – including Perseus – along with this one. Three years later, Canova developed an alternative model for Damoxenos.