Kouros

Kouros, plural kouroi, is the term for the standing, nude male figure of youth in ancient Greek sculpture, a hallmark of the Archaic period (roughly 700–480 BCE). The word means "youth" in Greek; the corresponding female figure is the kore ("maiden"). Kouroi were produced as freestanding statues in sanctuaries and as grave markers, often placed at tombs or offered to gods. They were carved in marble or limestone, sometimes in bronze, and could reach life-size or larger.

Form and features: The typical kouros stands with most of the weight on the left leg, the right leg relaxed, arms held straight at the sides with fists clenched. The head is often turned slightly, and faces display an intentional, enigmatic Archaic smile. Hair is rendered in geometric strands, and the body is idealized with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, reflecting the period’s conventions rather than naturalism.

Historical significance: The kouros figure helped establish a canonical template for male nude representation in Greek art. Over the course of the 6th century BCE, sculptors gradually refined proportion and movement, foreshadowing later Classical naturalism.

Notable examples: The Anavysos Kouros (c. 530 BCE), discovered near Anavysos north of Athens, is among the best-known examples and bears the inscription "I am Kroisos, slain in battle." Other surviving kouroi are located in major museums around the world.