Statue of a standing maiden (kore)

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Throughout ancient Greece's sixth century B.C., skilled artists began creating remarkably lifelike depictions of the human body. During this era, two primary types of freestanding, grand sculptures emerged: the male kouros, a standing nude youth statue, and the female kore, a standing draped maiden sculpture. Often placed in temples and cemeteries just beyond city walls, these massive stone statues served as offerings to the gods or markers for graves. Influential Athenian aristocrats commonly built elaborate funeral monuments within the city and its surroundings, especially for family members who had passed away at a young age. Such monuments also took the form of stelai, frequently adorned with intricate reliefs.