Greece and especially Athens still possesses a large number of ancient and contemporary monuments that reflect its rich cultural past and distinctive art, despite the fact that it no longer resembles the city it did when the first sculptures and statues were constructed thousands of years ago.
Today, one will still find many marble columns, busts, statues, and other works of art from many movements and styles, such as romanticism, neoclassicism, and classicism.
Each sculpture tells a unique story and serves as a means of connecting with the past, as people once thought in the ancient world.
Statues were built to commemorate significant occasions, notable people, national benefactors, and practitioners of the arts and sciences.
Here are some breathtaking sculptures that you can visit and see in Greece today:
1. Eros Archer, Zappeion Garden
Since 1924, Eros Archer has been idly observing Zappeion. Naked and perched on a rock, the God of Love is shown attempting to shatter his bow.
Georgios Vroutos created the monument near the end of the 19th century, and it went on to receive various accolades internationally.
2.The Artemision Poseidon sculpture
The enormous bronze statue of a god called Poseidon of Artemision got its name from Cape Artemision on the island of Evia, where it was found.
Despite its name, many archaeologists today think that Zeus, not Poseidon, is what the sculpture actually portrays.
From the tradition we know that the towering figure, which is 2.09 meters (6.85 feet) tall and shows Poseidon wielding a trident.
3. Athena and Apollo sculptures, Academy of Athens
The statues of Athena and Apollo are set on 10 meter-tall Ionic-style columns and are situated on the right side of the Academy of Athens’ main structure.
Athena, the goddess of wisdom, has a bronze spear and shield, while Apollo, the god of music and the sun, is holding a lyre in his left hand. Leonidas Drosis is the creator of both sculptures.
4.Theseus Savior of Hippodameian, Victoria Square
This particular sculpture in Victoria Square shows the legendary centaur Evrytion delivering Hippodameia to the ancient Greek hero Theseus.
The Centaur is depicted preparing to strike Theseus while holding a stone in his right hand. In an effort to free Hippodameia, Theseus is holding the centaur’s foot and head, respectively.
German sculptor Johannes Pfuhl finished the piece in 1906, and it previously decorated Syntagma Square before being moved to its current location in 1938.
5.The wildflower of the Parthenon
An amazing sculpture known as the Parthenon’s Wildflower once decorated the temple’s ceiling. At the Acropolis Museum, a plaster replica that was created using some of the original pieces of the artwork impresses visitors with its size and distinctive shape.
The sculptures of flowers that were placed above the three corners complimented the pediments’ ornamentation. They typically took the shape of beasts, monsters from folklore, vegetation, and occasionally gods. Those with floral designs were referred to as “Anthemia.” In the latter half of the sixth century, “Anthemia” started to adorn historic temples.
At the corners of the pediments of the Parthenon temple were capes, and in the middle stood two enormous Anthemia statues and the goddess Niki (Victory). There are two at the tops of the pediments—one on the west and one on the east.
