Statue of Pericles

Beneath the Attic sun, the Statue of Pericles stands as a silent sentinel. It whispers tales of a golden age, a time when Athens reigned supreme. The Statue of Pericles isn’t just a marble effigy. It’s a portal to a world of power, intrigue, and the enduring legacy of a man who shaped the destiny of a civilization. The original statue, a bronze masterpiece by the renowned sculptor Kresilas, was erected shortly after Pericles’ death, likely on the Acropolis. Sadly, that original bronze is lost to the sands of time. What we see today are Roman marble copies, echoes of the original’s grandeur. These copies, four in number, offer us glimpses into the image of Pericles that captivated the ancient world. He’s depicted wearing a Corinthian helmet, a symbol of his military prowess as strategos, the commander of the Athenian army. The helmet, however, served a dual purpose. It masked what some considered a physical flaw, Pericles’ unusually elongated head, a feature often mocked by comic poets who nicknamed him “Leek-head” or “Squill-head.” One can almost imagine the sculptor Kresilas, carefully crafting the image of Pericles, not as a mere mortal, but as an idealized embodiment of Athenian leadership. The copies of the Statue of Pericles aren’t identical. The Berlin copy is particularly detailed. You can see the curls of his hair peeking out from beneath the helmet, his beard meticulously groomed, and his lips slightly parted as if he’s about to address the Athenian assembly. The placement of the original statue, just beyond the Propylaea, the grand entrance to the Acropolis, speaks volumes about Pericles’ importance. He wasn’t just a leader; he was the embodiment of Athens itself. Two of the surviving copies, one in the Vatican and another in the British Museum, bear inscriptions confirming their subject: “Pericles, Son of Xanthippos, Athenian.” These inscriptions are like whispers from the past, connecting us to the man who shaped the Golden Age of Athens. The Statue of Pericles is more than just a statue. It’s a testament to the power of art to immortalize not just physical likeness, but the very essence of an individual and his impact on history.