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Demeter of Knidos

Demeter of Knidos is a white marble statue depicting a Kore, probably the goddess Demeter. It was made by the sculptor Leochares and placed in the city of Knidos, which gave the sculpture its name. The statue was later rediscovered among the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Caria and taken to England, where it is now preserved in the British Museum. In 2008, the city of Datça asked the British Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the return of the Demeter of Knidos and the Knidos Lion.

Demeter of Knidos seated marble statue with draped garments and missing forearms in a museum display
Demeter of Knidos, a damaged marble statue of a seated draped female figure, on display in a museum.
July 2011 © · CC0
Demeter of Knidos, a seated veiled woman statue with missing forearms.
The Demeter of Knidos shown as a seated, draped figure in a museum display.
© Catsimpoolas, Nicholas; Scull, S. A. (Sarah Amelia) · Public domain
The Demeter of Knidos, a heavily draped seated statue with a tilted head and missing arms, resting on a block-like support and pedestal.
The Demeter of Knidos shown as a seated, heavily draped statue with missing arms and a tilted head.
1906 © · No restrictions
The Demeter of Knidos, a seated marble statue of a draped female figure with broken arms.
Demeter of Knidos shown in a sepia-toned photograph, seated and draped in flowing robes with her arms missing.
© W. A. Mansell & Co. · Public domain
Demeter of Knidos, a draped seated statue with broken arms, photographed against a dark background.
Demeter of Knidos shown in a sepia-toned museum photograph, seated on a pedestal with her arms broken off.
© W. A. Mansell & Co. · Public domain

Identification

TitleDemeter of Knidos
TypeAncient Greek statue
Original titleLa Déméter de Cnide

Historical context

Datec. 350 BC
StyleHellenistic sculpture
CultureGreek

Creator

ArtistLearches (Leocares)
Artist gendermale

Discovery and provenance

Transferred toLondon almost immediately after rediscovery
Sanctuary settingA long terrace beside the acropolis overlooking the city and the sea
Rediscovered1857–1858, by Charles Thomas Newton
Condition at discoveryNearly completely intact
Discovery contextFound among votive statuettes in the sanctuary temple; most of the other votive sculptures were later found in fragments
Associated sanctuarySanctuary of Demeter at Knidos
Original locationSanctuary of Demeter at Knidos, near the ancient port of Knidos in southwestern Asia Minor (present-day near Datça, Turkey)
Sanctuary date350 BC, when the city was reestablished

Location and ownership

Current locationBritish Museum, London, England
CollectionBritish Museum Greek and Roman art collection

Physical characteristics

SizeLife-size; about 1.50 m tall
ConditionRelatively intact, but the back and armrests of the throne and the goddess's forearms and hands are missing
PoseSeated on a throne

Technique

ConstructionThe forearms and hands were carved separately, and the head was carved separately from the body and attached at the neck

Materials

MaterialWhite marble

Iconography and meaning

Depicted figureDemeter
IdentificationA kore, probably the goddess Demeter
DescriptionSerene, timeless appearance
InterpretationSeen as expressing Demeter's maternal role in the Greek pantheon
Associated deitiesHades and other underworld deities, including Persephone
Mythological relationPersephone is Demeter's daughter

Other

Repatriation requestIn 2008, the city of Datça requested its return from the British Ministry of Culture and Tourism, along with the Lion of Knidos