Getty Museum

Statuette of Apollo

Date

about 100 B.C.

Medium

Silver

Culture

Greek

Department

Sculpture

Institution

Getty Museum

This Hellenistic silver statuette depicts Apollo, the Greek god of music and prophecy. He originally held a lyre in his left arm; the right hand may have held his lyre's pick. The god appears with long, wavy hair tied in a knot on the top of his head and locks escaping down onto his shoulders, a hairstyle also favored by the goddess Aphrodite. Apollo had always been represented as young and beautiful in Greek art, but in the Hellenistic period, his image became much softer and more effeminate. Statues of the gods in precious metals such as gold and silver were popular among the wealthy for display in household shrines. Such statues were also found in temple treasuries, to which they had been given as elaborate and expensive gifts to the gods.

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