Why are Greek god statues so muscular?

They believed a perfect body was the idealized body, all part of their humanist belief system. Back then, they were so into it they even sculpted their armor with rippling pecs and muscles. “All the abstracts were for show,” says Brice, confirming there are at least no structural benefits to the carved muscles.

Why was marble used in ancient Greece?

The ancients preferred white marble not only for its purity of color and beauty, but also for its soft composition and resistance to shatter. Other marble was also used. Ancient sculptors of Greece and Rome employed marble in free-standing sculptures as well as relief carvings.

Why do we love Ancient Greek sculptures so much?

The ancient Greeks famously fetishized the male body in sculptures that represent powerful, illustrious men as hulking figures with taut, rippling muscles. Sometimes these figures appear partially clothed in drapery or cloth; often, they are stark naked. To the contemporary eye, their bodies are ideal—except for one, ahem, seminal detail.

How did the ancient Greeks view the male body?

The ancient Greeks famously fetishized the male body in sculptures that represent powerful, illustrious men as hulking figures with taut, rippling muscles. Sometimes these figures appear partially clothed in drapery or cloth; often, they are stark naked.

What are the characteristics of idealized Greek statues?

Many idealized statues can be seen with muscle definition and limb proportions that are unattainable by a human being. Many of the portrayals are god-like creations that would have been larger than life when compared to the average citizen of ancient Greece. . National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

What is marble sculpture?

Marble sculpture is a cornerstone of art history. The ancient Greeks left a legacy of transformative sculptural works that reached for unprecedented naturalism in Hellenistic gems such as Venus de Milo and Nike of Samothrace.