Callimachus (sculptor)

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Callimachus was a Greek sculptor and bronze caster of unknown origin who worked in the last quarter of the 5th century BC. BC was mainly active in Athens .

Dancing hearth - Roman copy after Callimachus (approx. 406–405 BC) - Capitoline Museums in Rome

His works are mentioned in ancient literature: dancing Spartan women ; a seated Hera in Platää ; a golden lamp that burned day and night in the Erechtheion on the Acropolis of Athens . Above all, the invention of the Corinthian capital and thus the Corinthian order is attributed to him. He is also said to have worked as a painter. None of these works has survived, only there are later reproductions as reliefs of the dancing Spartan women. Further attributions are hypothetical. Many researchers assume that the grave stele of Hegeso was a work by Callimachus or one of his students.

Callimachus has worked hard to improve the sculpting technique and is said to have been the first to work with the drill. He was never satisfied with his work, but kept refining and improving it.

In Roman times there was another sculptor called Callimachos, who came from Athens and is known for his signatures on preserved works.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Pliny , Natural History 34, 92.
  2. ^ Pausanias 9, 2, 7.
  3. ↑ Pausanias 1, 26, 6f.
  4. ^ Vitruvius 4, 1, 10.
  5. ↑ Pliny, Natural History 34, 92.
personal data
SURNAME Callimachus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek sculptor and bronze caster
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 5th century BC BC or 4th century BC Chr.