Inv. Scu 639

This statue depicts a young man; he is entirely nude with the exception of a himation or mantle (typical piece of clothing in Ancient Greece) that he wears draped over the lower half of his body.

The mantle reaches from the young male’s hips to his knees and the folds of extra cloth are wrapped around his left arm.

The weight of the figure is carried upon the right foot. His left leg is raised and the foot rests upon a tall support disguised as a rock. This block of stone absorbs the heavy weight of the stone above it, helping the statue to remain upright and intact.

The rock seen here may also have a narrative role in addition to its practical one: the pose of the youth, with his foot placed on a high object and his body leaning forward over it, is typical of ancient images that depict deities and heroes watching over or protecting a territory.

The work comes from Villa Adriana and it dates to the Hadrianic period (117-138 A.D.).