The Discobolus (British Museum Objects in Focus)

Every purchase supports the British Museum A concise and beautifully illustrated book that explores the history and meaning of Myron's Discobolus, one of the most famous images of the ancient world and a masterpiece of Greek art The Discobolus or discus-thrower is a marvellous classical piece of sculpture that over time has come to mean different things to different people Originally cast in bronze by the fifth-century BC sculptor Myron, the composition portraying an athlete preparing to throw his discus captures a moment of action perfectly: the tensed body looks as if it is merely pausing and about to burst into life at any moment An enduring pattern of energy, Myron's statue of harmonious proportions is a fantastic representation of the athletic ideal and an embodiment of the male Greek body beautiful