Fragment from the statue of a kore

myminifactory

Greek artists achieved remarkable naturalism in their depictions of human figures by the sixth century B.C. Two distinct types of freestanding sculptures dominated this era: the male kouros, a standing nude youth, and the female kore, a standing draped maiden. These large stone statues stood proudly in sanctuaries and cemeteries outside city walls, serving as dedications to gods or grave markers. Wealthy Athenian families frequently commissioned expensive funerary monuments within the city limits and surrounding areas, often honoring family members who had died prematurely. Such monuments took the form of elaborate stelai, sometimes adorned with intricate relief designs.