Head of kouros

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Throughout the sixth century B.C., Greek artists crafted increasingly lifelike depictions of the human form. During this era, two distinct types of freestanding, large-scale sculptures dominated: the male kouros, a standing nude youth, and the female kore, a standing draped maiden. Placed in sanctuaries and cemeteries outside city walls, these massive stone statues served as offerings to the gods or as grave markers. Wealthy Athenian aristocrats often commissioned expensive funerary monuments within the city and its surroundings, especially for family members who had passed away at a young age. Such monuments frequently took the form of stelai, often adorned with intricate relief designs.