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Source Image: PR307_02_07 of Unfinished Athlete of Aphrodisias: Miscellaneous Statuary

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Description

Detail of the unfinished athlete modelled on the Polykleitan diskophoros from the Sculptor's Workshop.

Monument
Aphrodisias: Miscellaneous Statuary 
Monument Part
Unfinished Athlete 
Monument Type
Relief 
Material(s)
Aphrodisian marble (Visual identification)  
Date
circa ad 120 - circa ad 300 
Keywords
Athlete  
Collections
Aphrodisias, Site and Museum  

Location

Original Location
Aphrodisias 
Current Location
Aphrodisias Museum 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Roughing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Vertical (90°)
Force: Hard
Description
Very rough point chiselling is visible on those areas of the background away from the figure.

2. Toolmarks

Process
Roughing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Steep (60-70°)
Force: Hard
Description
Closer to the figure the point chisel is being used at a shallower angle to define its approximate form.

3. Toolmarks

Process
Roughing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Steep (60-70°)
Force: Medium
Description
Finer working with the point chisel is visible on the supports beneath the arms.

4. Toolmarks

Process
Detailing
Tool
Drill
Method
Vertical (90°)
Description
The surface of the figure is too damaged to allow toolmarks to be identified but drill holes are visible in the hair and ear of this figure, indicating that it was finished to a high degree.

Notes

Since it was common for carvers in the Roman period, especially at Aphrodisias, to define their subjects first in two dimensions and then three, working in from the front of the block, it is impossible to say for sure whether this was intended to be a relief or a free-standing statue. In this case a high relief seems most likely.

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