Torso of a kouros

myminifactory

Throughout the sixth century B.C., Greek artists created increasingly lifelike depictions of the human figure. During this period, two main types of freestanding, large-scale sculptures dominated: the male kouros, or standing nude youth, and the female kore, or standing draped maiden. Placed in sanctuaries and cemeteries outside city walls, these massive stone statues served as dedications to gods or as grave markers. Athenian aristocrats regularly erected costly funerary monuments within the city and its surroundings, often for family members who had passed away at a young age. Such monuments also took the form of stelai, frequently decorated with intricate relief designs.