Charioteer of Delphi (5th century BCE, cast 1977)

by Artist Unknown

Title

Charioteer of Delphi
Artist

Artist Unknown
Year

5th Century BCE, cast 1977
Location

Kelly Drive near 24th Street
Medium

Bronze cast of ancient piece
Dimensions

Height 5'9"; width 2'1"; depth 2'6" (base height 2'3")

Gift of the Greek government to the City of Philadelphia

Owned by the City of Philadelphia

Museum Without Walls Audio

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At A Glance

Considered one of the finest surviving sculptures of classical Greece
Contemporary Greek artists Nikos Kerlis and Theodora Papayannis cast this duplicate using the lost-wax process, one of the most accurate methods available

Around 478 BCE, Polyzalos, the Tyrant of Gela in Sicily, commissioned a statue to express his gratitude to the god Apollo for his charioteer’s victory in the Pythian Games. Now in the museum at Delphi, this bronze is considered one of the finest surviving sculptures of classical Greece. The cast near Philadelphia’s Museum of Art was a gift from the Greek government.

A man looks at Charioteer of Delphi outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art — Photo Caitlin Martin © 2010 for the Association for Public Art

Contemporary Greek artists Nikos Kerlis and Theodora Papayannis cast this faithful duplicate using the lost-wax process, one of the most accurate methods available. As in the original, the left arm is missing, as are the chariot and horses that once formed part of the sculpture.

Voices heard in the Museum Without Walls: AUDIO program: Ann Kuttner is professor of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art at the University of Pennsylvania. Penelope Lagakos is the daughter of Judge Gregory Lagakos who facilitated the donation of the Charioteer. Shane Stratton is a sculptor in Philadelphia who has taught at the Tyler School of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. | Segment Producer: Eric Molinsky