Item Size:  10” High     Type:   Statue on Marble Base

Material:  Casting Stone, with Bronze Finish

Original:  From Greece, 450 B.C.E.

Current Location of Original:   National Archaeological Museum, Athens

This bust is taken from the full figure which was at first viewed as a representation of Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the sea. That identification was later questioned. The balance of evidence now tilts towards it being a representation of Zeus, the chief of the Olympian gods in Greek mythology; and this is now accepted by the majority of archaeologists. An arm of the statue was first found in 1926 under the sea in the remains of an old shipwreck, north of Athens. The rest of the figure was recovered two years later. Many art historians felt the statue to be the work of Kalamis. The ancient Greeks believed Zeus ruled over the sky and all atmospheric phenomena – the winds, clouds, and rain. Even the destructive thunder and lightning were under his command. Being viewed as the ruler of the sky, he was venerated in lofty places such as mountain tops. Thus the oak was considered sacred to him, as was the thunderbolt and the eagle.