A Group of Early Sixth Century Korai and the Workshop on Chios

Abstract

A number of early sixth century korai has been connected by various students and others may be added. The Catalogue presents a full list of figures the connecting features of which are scale, treatment of hair at front and back, treatment of bodice, belt and skirt, and details of mass and line. These korai are distinguishable in style from other groups of korai of this period; if these other groups of korai represent local schools, as is often suggested, our group also looks like another local school. Chios is suggested because (a) the island is an important one with no school identified for it though the literature says it had one, (b) the Nike of Delos is plausibly that of Archermos of Chios and may be linked to this group, (c) two examples of this group were found on Chios and are made of distinctive local marble, (d) the group can be connected with naiskoi found on Chios, and (e) the wide distribution of the group is not a valid argument against Chios since sculptors travelled (Mikkiades' name at Paros) and excavation in Chios has not (yet) unearthed much sculpture. This solution does not help fill the gap in the series of korai between 600 and 580 B. C. Yet there may really have been a gap since (1) finds are now numerous enough and random enough to justify the belief that we have a moderately representative sample, and (2) differences in style between 7th and 6th century korai are sharply marked.