Milo of Croton at The Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris

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This intricately carved marble sculpture captures Milo of Croton in mid-action, his partially draped figure split as he tears apart a tree trunk. Created by Edmé Dumont (1722-1775) in the late 19th Century's final quarter. Milo of Croton was a renowned wrestler from ancient Greece's Magna Graecian city of Croton, dominating competitions and winning numerous victories at the most prestigious athletic festivals. Beyond his impressive athletic record, Milo is credited by Diodorus Siculus with leading his fellow citizens to military triumph over neighboring Sybaris in 510 BC. Milo was said to have close ties with Pythagoras, reportedly saving the philosopher's life when a roof collapsed and possibly even marrying his daughter Myia. Like other celebrated athletes of ancient Greece, Milo became the subject of fantastical tales highlighting his incredible strength and power, some of which may have originated from misinterpretations of his statues. Among these stories is one where he carried a bull on his shoulders and another where he burst a band around his brow simply by inflating the veins in his temples. The exact date of Milo's death remains unknown, but it is said that while attempting to tear a tree apart, his hands became trapped in its trunk and were devoured by a pack of wolves. Milo has been immortalized in various works of art by Pierre Puget, Étienne-Maurice Falconet, and others. In literature, he has been referenced by Rabelais in Gargantua and Pantagruel and by Shakespeare in Troilus and Cressida. Additionally, Milo is mentioned in chapter 10 of Alexandre Dumas' The Man in the Iron Mask. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort, inviting individuals to contribute interesting items around them by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can help.