The Bronze Runner (1)

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These two Roman bronze statues from the 1st Century BC are exact replicas of ancient Greek sculptures from the 4th Century BC. The originals, now lost, served as models for these copies. Unearthed in the Villa of the Papyri in Ercolano, they are permanently displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. This villa was once owned by Gaius Julius Caesar's father-in-law. It gained its name from a library of carbonized papyrus scrolls discovered there. The villa housed eighty magnificent sculptures. In ancient Greece, Olympic runners competed in the 'stadion', the most prestigious event at the Games. The winner earned the right to give his name to the Olympiad and light the flame in the next games. The figure's energy is palpable; their eagerness, fueled by golden eyes, propels them towards victory. Their eyeballs were crafted from bone or ivory, with pupils made of grey and black stone inserted separately into the bronze body. Athletes like Astylos of Croton, Oebotas of Dyme, and Cyclon of Athens have transcended time to reach us today. Could one of these dynamic figures be a depiction of them? It is believed that they were sculpted by an artist in the Lyssip school.