When the bronze original was discovered in the sea it held nothing in its raised right hand. Thus, we cannot know whether it shows the sea god Poseidon, who would be holding a trident, or Zeus, ruler of the gods, brandishing his thunderbolt. The figure is a prime example of the stringent classical style that marks the transition from Archaic stiffness with its familiar stereotypical smile towards a greater range of expression, as is evident here where we see the body captured at the moment before the deity’s anger and strength is released in his throw.
This is a 3D scan of a plaster cast of the sculpture ‘Zeus or Poseidon from the Artemision’ dated circa 460-450 BCE.
The scan is made from the cast (ref. KAS2100) in The Royal Cast Collection at SMK – National Gallery of Denmark.
To be continued...