Memnon of Ethiopia

myminifactory

Human: King Memnon of Ethiopia is briefly mentioned in Homer's epic poem about the Trojan War, the Iliad. He leads a vast army to defend Troy, renowned for their exceptional skill as archers. Memnon himself is an extraordinary warrior with unwavering courage that earns him comparison to Achilles, the Greeks' greatest hero. In battle, Achilles and Memnon meet, and Memnon falls. Recognizing his strength and valor, the Greek gods make him immortal and transport him to Mount Olympus. This sculpture was crafted in the Hellenistic style for a villa where Herodes Atticus, a renowned Greek philosopher, lived while educating Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Around this time, approximately 170 BC, the Romans were deeply interested in Greek culture, which they had recently conquered. They were particularly captivated by Homer's tales, also fascinating to Alexander the Great. The Roman emperors sought to emulate Alexander, who saw himself as a new Achilles. During Alexander's reign and later during the Roman era, tastes shifted away from classical idealism towards greater realism. Consequently, the bust of King Memnon appears as a portrait of a real person rather than just an archetype. He is also an exemplary figure for the Romans, who believed they descended from Trojans. Their conquest of Greece avenged the fall of Troy, and they stood on the same side as Memnon. To Greeks and Romans, Ethiopians were perceived as stronger, taller, and gifted with exceptional longevity compared to other peoples. - Henrik Holm, Senior Research Curator at SMK This is a 3D scan of a plaster cast of the sculpture 'Memnon of Ethiopia' dated circa 170 BCE. The scan is made from the original cast (ref. KAS969) in The Royal Cast Collection at SMK – National Gallery of Denmark. The scan is a downscaled version, approximately 10 mb. For more information about the 3D scans of casts in The Royal Cast Collection and to download high-resolution 3D models, visit: www.smk.dk/3d If you create new work using this model and wish to share it with us, please email web@smk.dk.