THE ATARBOS BASE

Dimensions
33 x 100 x 4 cm; 34 x 96 x 5 cm
Date
early 20th century
Period
Material
Inventory
Ag.328; Ag.564
ID
Hyp-5778
References
Hekler, Gipszgyűjtemény, no. 420, no.456

The relief decorated the base of a group of three bronze statues. According to the inscription engraved along its upper border, the monument was erected by a man named Atarbos, who won the competition of both the chorus dance and the weapon dance (pyrrhiche) at the festival staged in honour of the goddess Athena. In the centre, there are two female figures wearing a chiton and a himation. To their right, there is a procession of seven men: they are dancing and singing in chorus. On the other side there are two groups of four men, performing the weapon dance. They wear helmets, the left hands hold shields, the right hands once held spears (which were perhaps painted). Atarbos was the leader, or “producer” (choregos) of the two groups.