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Relief of a Runner

Relief of a Runner is an early Classical relief in the Archaeological National Museum of Athens (NAMA), inventory no. 1959. Dating to around 500 BC, it is carved from Parian marble and preserves only part of its original trapezoidal form, with the upper section and lower right corner missing. The young nude man wears only an Attic helmet and is shown in a dynamic left-to-right movement, with his head turned back. His body combines a forward motion with a frontal upper torso, making the work important for understanding the development of Attic art between the archaic and classical periods. The relief was found in 1901 near the Theseion in Athens and may once have formed part of a grave monument or the side of a base for one.

Ancient Greek relief showing a forward-leaning male runner in profile with bent arms.
Runner Relief, an ancient Greek stone sculpture depicting a forward-leaning male figure in profile.
July 2007 © · CC BY 2.0
Runner Relief showing a carved figure in high relief on a weathered stone panel, posed in a crouching posture with bent arms.
Runner Relief depicted as a weathered stone carving of a crouching figure in high relief.
· CC BY-SA 4.0
Runner Relief on a stone stele, showing a carved male figure in a forward-leaning stance on a dark pedestal.
Runner Relief displayed on a pedestal, with the carved figure shown in a low, forward-leaning pose.
· CC BY-SA 2.5
Runner Relief carved on a pale stone stele with a figure shown in profile in rapid motion.
Runner Relief displayed as a carved marble stele with a running figure in low relief.
July 2016 © · CC0
Runner Relief showing a weathered marble relief of a kneeling male figure in motion with styled hair and muscular detail.
Runner Relief, an ancient marble relief depicting a kneeling male figure in mid-motion.
March 2014 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleRelief of a Runner
TypeRelief sculpture on a stele
Object typeFunerary monument fragment
Alternative titleHoplitodrome stele

Historical context

Datecirca 500 BC
Style periodLate Archaic period of Greek sculpture

Creator

CreatorUnknown

Discovery and provenance

Current locationNational Archaeological Museum, Athens
Inventory number1959
Discovery placeNear the Theseion / Thiseion district (Hephaesteion), Athens
Discovery date1901 or 1902

Physical characteristics

ShapeTrapezoidal
ConditionHeavily damaged; the upper part and the lower right corner are missing
Preserved decorative elementsTwo volutes in the upper corners are preserved
Dimensions1.02 m high and 73 cm wide; slightly smaller than life-size

Materials

MaterialParian marble

Technique

Relief techniqueLow relief

Appearance

Arms positionStrongly bent and raised high, with the hands held in front of the chest
MusculatureMusculature is only lightly indicated, giving an athletic impression
Hair treatmentHair shown in several braided strands, fastened at the ends with shell-like or bead-like ornaments; similar shell-like locks appear at the forehead beneath the helmet
HeadgearAttic military helmet
Head positionTurned backward to the left and slightly inclined downward
Body orientationLower body turned to the right; upper body shown in a separate twist, with the chest and shoulders nearly frontal
MovementThe figure moves from left to right
Depicted figureA young nude man

Iconography and meaning

SubjectA runner, possibly in an armed race
Alternative interpretationPossibly a pyrrhichist, a dancer in the armed pyrrhic dance
ActionThe runner appears to look back at his pursuers while moving forward
NudityThe nudity is symbolic rather than literal
Helmet meaningThe helmet suggests the runner should be imagined armed and armored
Form and motifThe shape of the stone and the motif closely fit and appear to have shaped one another
Body movementThe body's contortions are characteristic of the period and were a novelty at the time

Location and ownership

Probable original contextFunerary monument

History and restoration

FunctionIts purpose is uncertain
Possible functionPossibly a small funerary stele serving as a monument in itself
More probable functionProbably one side of a base made for a larger funerary monument

Significance

Art-historical significanceImportant for the study of Attic art; marks the transition from Archaic rigidity to more dynamic Classical art