Sculpture Saturday transports us back to the 6th century B.C. and the myth of Kleobis and Biton.
These sculptures are two of the best examples of kouroi, free-standing statues of nude male Greek youth. According to an inscription on the base, Polymedes of Argos was the sculptor and dedicated these statues to Apollo on behalf of the people of Argos. The marble sculptures are just over two meters tall.
According to the myth, Kleobis and Biton, were the sons of a high priestess of the Sanctuary of Hera. When their mother was unable to find oxen to travel to the temple for a festival, her muscular and athletic sons carried the yoke on their own shoulders for the six-mile journey. Upon arriving at the sanctuary, their mother prayed to Hera to grant her wonderful sons the greatest gift a mortal could have which apparently was death. Kleobis and Biton died in their sleep the same day. Thanks a lot mom!
The sculptures were discovered at Delphi in 1893 and 1894. They are now displayed in the Museum of Delphi a couple hundred meters from where they originally stood.
Sculpture Saturday is a challenge hosted by Susan Kelly at No Fixed Plans.
Salsaworldtraveler'sblog 
Love the knees. Look like alien faces
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Strange that the knees seem to have the most detail. Thanks for checking out the post.
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do you think someone deliberately stole their bits? Sorry, had to ask!
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I bet someone did. Biton name should be Bitoff. Ha ha!
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that’s quite the gift; I guess there’s no returning it…
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True unfortunately. Not my idea of a gift.
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Amazing sculptures and what a weird story attached to them – a mother praying for her own sons to die!
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I’m not sure if the mom knew death would be how her prayer would be answered. Those Greek gods and oracles were very tricky. People had to be very careful about what they asked for.
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Ah right, I misread your meaning and thought that she felt that was the greatest gift, not that Hera had interpreted it as such. That makes sense, the gods not being mortal themselves 🙂
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It wasn’t clear to me either reading the story if the mom knew death was the greatest gift for a mortal. Thanks for reading and commenting. That’s one gift I’m not anxious to receive.☺
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This is one of those absurd ancient myths I hadn’t known about until now.
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Death is a strange gift but at least one we all will receive.
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