Statue of a kouros

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Throughout the sixth century B.C., artists from ancient Greece created increasingly lifelike depictions of the human form. During this era, two dominant types of massive freestanding sculptures emerged: the male kouros, or standing nude youth, and the female kore, or standing draped maiden. Placed in sacred temples and cemeteries outside city walls, these large stone statues served as offerings to the gods or as grave markers. Members of Athenian aristocracy often commissioned expensive funerary monuments within the city limits and its surroundings, particularly for family members who had passed away at a young age. Such monuments also took the form of stelai, frequently adorned with intricate relief decorations. This statue was discovered in the sanctuary dedicated to Ptoan Apollo in Boeotia. The smooth modeling and gentle transitions from one body part to another suggest that it originates from a Cycladic workshop.