SCYTHIAN SLAVE WHETTING HIS KNIFE

Dimensions
108 x 114 x 57 cm
Date
early 20th century
Period
Material
Production place
Inventory
Ag.282
ID
Hyp-6400
References
Hekler, Gipszgyűjtemény, no. 360

The other figure of the group depicts the Scythian slave who performs the punishment. The composition evokes a pyramid-like structure: the man is crouching, his knees held between the arms which are stretched forward, whetting his knife. His facial features show that he is not Greek: he has a bulging jaw, the head is oblong. He looks compassionately at his victim. He is not killing him for passionate ideals, he is just following orders. Parts of the statue, like the hand holding the knife, are modern additions. The restorer was familiar with the story, they knew what the statue should represent.