Damophon

Damophon (Greek: Δαμοφῶν; fl. 2nd century BC) was an ancient Greek sculptor of the Hellenistic period from Messene, known for his many acroliths found in Messene, Megalopolis, Aegium, Lycosura and other cities of the Peloponnesus. Other cities beyond the Peloponnese that Damophon was admired include Leucas, Cephallenia, Kynthos, Melos and Oiantheia.[1]

There has been some debate surrounding the dating of Damophon's statues with historians attributing him to anywhere between the 4th c. BC to the 2nd c. AD.[2][3] However, recent work at Messene where others of Damophon's sculptures have been found, indicate a date around 180 BC for his floruit.[1]

While much of Damophon's life remains unknown, Pausanias writes of his prevalence in Greek sculpture well into the 2nd c. CE.[4] More information about the life of Damophon, and about his work for various other Greek cities, has been provided by an inscription found at Messene, which was uncovered by archaeologists in two parts, in 1972 and 1989.[5][1]

  1. ^ a b c Melina Melfi, Damophon of Messene in the Ionian coast of Greece (in Hellenistic Sanctuaries: Between Greece and Rome, OUP, 2016).
  2. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Damophon". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 790.
  3. ^ Waldstein, Charles (1904). "Damophon". The Journal of Hellenic Studies. 24: 330–331. doi:10.2307/624036. ISSN 2041-4099. JSTOR 624036. S2CID 250246249 – via JSTOR.
  4. ^ Pausinias, Description of Greece, 4.31.6.
  5. ^ English translation at attalus.org.