Archermus
Encyclopedia
Archermus was a sculptor
of Chios
working in the middle of the 6th century BC. His father, Micciades, and his sons, Bupalus and Athenis, were sculptors of marble.
A scholium
on Aristophanes
' Birds
, (at v. 573) credits Archermus with having been the first to represent Nike
and Eros with wings. A running archaic Nike
figure that was found at Delos in 1877 (Tarbell), was at first too hopefully connected with a separate base found nearby, which recorded the execution of a statue by Archermus and Micciades; at first it was dubbed the "Nike of Archermus" (Athens NM 21). Unfortunately it is the base, which probably supported a sphinx
, that alone is by Archermus and his father (EB 1911).
The Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge, classify their cast of the Nike as "Nike of Delos. Marble, 0.90 m. Winged female figure, either a freestanding sculpture or an akroterion (roof ornament). Possibly by Archermos. 570-560 BC. From the Temple of Artemis at Delos. (Athens NM 21)".
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
of Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
working in the middle of the 6th century BC. His father, Micciades, and his sons, Bupalus and Athenis, were sculptors of marble.
A scholium
Scholium
Scholia , are grammatical, critical, or explanatory comments, either original or extracted from pre-existing commentaries, which are inserted on the margin of the manuscript of an ancient author, as glosses. One who writes scholia is a scholiast...
on Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
' Birds
The Birds (play)
The Birds is a comedy by the Ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. It was performed in 414 BCE at the City Dionysia where it won second prize. It has been acclaimed by modern critics as a perfectly realized fantasy remarkable for its mimicry of birds and for the gaiety of its songs...
, (at v. 573) credits Archermus with having been the first to represent Nike
Nike (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Kratos , Bia , and Zelus...
and Eros with wings. A running archaic Nike
Nike (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Kratos , Bia , and Zelus...
figure that was found at Delos in 1877 (Tarbell), was at first too hopefully connected with a separate base found nearby, which recorded the execution of a statue by Archermus and Micciades; at first it was dubbed the "Nike of Archermus" (Athens NM 21). Unfortunately it is the base, which probably supported a sphinx
Sphinx
A sphinx is a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head or a cat head.The sphinx, in Greek tradition, has the haunches of a lion, the wings of a great bird, and the face of a woman. She is mythicised as treacherous and merciless...
, that alone is by Archermus and his father (EB 1911).
The Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge, classify their cast of the Nike as "Nike of Delos. Marble, 0.90 m. Winged female figure, either a freestanding sculpture or an akroterion (roof ornament). Possibly by Archermos. 570-560 BC. From the Temple of Artemis at Delos. (Athens NM 21)".