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5.6: Discus Thrower (Discobolus)

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    Discus Thrower (Discobolus)

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    Artist: Myron
    Medium: Marble copy of a bronze original
    Art Historical Time Period:  Early Classical Greek (ca. 460–450 BCE)

    The Discus Thrower, or Discobolus, is a statue that shows an athlete in the middle of throwing a discus. It was made by Myron, who wanted to show movement and energy in the human body. The statue was probably made to honor athletic skill, which was highly valued in ancient Greece.

    What made the Discus Thrower special was how Myron captured the moment just before the throw. The body looks strong and balanced, showing the artist’s understanding of anatomy. Many later artists were inspired by this statue, including the Romans, who made copies. Even today, it’s a symbol of athleticism and is admired for its dynamic pose

    Vocabulary

    • Anatomy The study of the structure of the body.
    • Dynamic Full of energy and movement.

    Student Authors

    • Alicia Gonzalez ’25 and Oscar Gonzalez ‘26
     

    References and Image Attribution

    • Boardman, John. Greek Sculpture: The Classical Period. Thames & Hudson, 1985.

    • Neer, Richard T. Greek Art and Archaeology: A New History. Thames & Hudson, 2011.

    • Osborne, Robin. Archaic and Classical Greek Art. Oxford University Press, 1998.

    • Image: “Discobolus in National Roman Museum Palazzo Massimo alle Terme” via Wikimedia Commons by Livioandronico2013. Licensed under BY-SA 4.0. Modified from original.

     

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    5.6: Discus Thrower (Discobolus) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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