Note 2170 — Chapter VI · TWO MARBLE HEADS FROM VICTOR STATUES.2022

This would explain the simple, even sketchy, treatment of the closely cropped hair, just as in the Agias and the Philandridas. The similarly parted lips of the Sparta head are certainly more appropriate to an athlete represented as weary with his toil than to a youthful Herakles. The slightly fierce expression of the face, augmented by the already noted imperfection in the modeling of the right eyeball, recalls the γοργόν look characteristic of boxers and pancratiasts; cf. supra, p. 317, n. 2. On the threatening eyes of contestants in general, see Xenophon, Mem., III, 10, 6–8, and supra, p. 59.

The head appears to me to be that of a boy of about sixteen years; its style is too early for a victor in the boys’ pankration, as this event was not introduced at Olympia until the 145th Olympiad ( = 200 B. C.): see Paus., V, 8.11 and Ph., 13. The wrestling match for boys was introduced in 01. 37 ( = 632 B. C.): see Paus., V, 8.9, and Afr. Boys were first allowed to box in Ol. 41 ( = 616 B. C.): see Paus., ibid. (though Philostratos, 13, gives two traditions, Ols. 41 and 60).