Cleveland Museum of Art

Statuette of Herakles

Date

510–500 BCE

Medium

bronze (solid cast)

Culture

Greek

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Striding forward with his left foot, this nude figure turns his torso and raises his tightly bent right arm behind his head. Despite significant damage, the statuette conveys a naturalistic sense of form and movement rarely seen in early Greek art. Its most striking feature is its powerful physique, with sharply defined, bulging muscles. Formerly called an athlete and assumed to have held a javelin or discus, the figure likely depicts the hero Herakles, revered for his strength and often shown in this smiting pose, wielding a club. Though usually bearded in this period, this representation emphasizes his youthfulness, with an idealized face and carefully arranged hair. This robust figure exudes power, despite his damaged feet and missing hands.

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