Kore (sculpture)

For other uses, see Kore (disambiguation).
The Peplos Kore, created circa 530 BC

Kore (Greek: κόρη "maiden"; plural korai) is the modern term[1] given to a type of free-standing ancient Greek sculpture of the Archaic period depicting female figures, always of a young age. Kouroi are the youthful male equivalent of kore statues.

Korai show the restrained "archaic smile", which did not demonstrate emotion. It was the symbol of the ideal, transcending the hardships of the world.[2] Unlike the nude kouroi, korai are depicted in thick and sometimes elaborate drapery. As fashions changed, so did the type of clothing they wore. Over time, korai went from the heavy peplos to lighter garments such as the chiton.[3] Their posture is rigid and column-like, sometimes with an extended arm.[3] Some korai were painted colorfully to enhance the visual impact of the garments and for narrative purposes.[4]

There are multiple theories on whether the korai represent mortals or deities.[5] Korai also functioned as offerings to the deities or the dead.[6]

  1. ^ although the word was used in the ancient world in relation to caryatids LSJ s.v. VII “τοὺς λίθους . . τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν κορῶν IG I3 474 (Erechtheum)”
  2. ^ Smarthistory. art, history, conversation. (2014-03-09), Peplos Kore from the Acropolis, retrieved 2017-10-05{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b Hannelore, Hägele (2013-09-11). Colour in sculpture : a survey from ancient Mesopotamia to the present. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. pp. 74–76. ISBN 9781443852654. OCLC 859834125.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ The color of life : polychromy in sculpture from antiquity to the present. Panzanelli, Roberta., Schmidt, Eike D., Lapatin, Kenneth D. S., J. Paul Getty Museum. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum. 2008. pp. 173–186. ISBN 9780892369188. OCLC 174112811.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).