The Discobolus is a classical Greek sculpture depicting an athlete in the moment of throwing a discus. Created by Myron, it represents an exemplary action statue that embodies athletic vitality and idealized human form. Myron was known for perfecting the technique of capturing moments that exemplify rhythm, harmony, and equilibrium in his sculptures.
The Discobolus is considered a milestone in ancient Greek sculpture, indicating the full maturity of Greek sculpture technique. This innovation in art has been so influential that the discus-thrower has become an iconic image of the Olympic Games and athletic ideal. The Greeks used a larger and heavier discus made of metal or stone in various weights.
Myron’s lost sculptural masterpiece can only be known through descriptions by ancient writers and copies. Unfortunately, one such copy, the Townley Discobolus, erroneously shows its head facing down rather than looking up towards the discus due to an 18th-century restoration error. Despite this error, Myron’s powerful spiraling composition captured mid-action using incised musculature still resonates with art lovers today as much as it did during ancient times.
