On a hillside on the northern coast of the Cycladic island of Naxos rests a blue grey marble colossus, rough hewn and almost complete. Sadly, something went wrong in the rough carving and he was abandoned in solitude. He has been resting here, set in his quarry bed for well over two and a half millennia.
Visitors come and go. I’ve seen early pre-19th century travel sketches and watercolours, old late-19th century black and white photographs, and many more recent tourist snaps of this giant unfinished statue.
He is almost 11 metres in length. The Kouros of Apollonas (the ancient town nearby) was his original name. But in the mid-19th century he was identified as the Greek god Dionysus, so is now called the Colossus of Dionysus. Whatever his name, he perpetually lies in his stone bed gazing out to sea.
Solitude: The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge.
[…] Stone Solitude – My Kitchen Witch […]
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I think his story, told by your words are just as interesting as the photos you took. Thank you!
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Thank you! I do try to tell a good story.
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[…] Stone Solitude […]
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How interesting. I wonder where he was originally meant to end up? A mystery. Great photos.
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What a lovely post! I didn’t know about this statue, although I’ve been to Naxos a couple of times…
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Next time you are on Naxos – just above the northern village of Apollonas in their ancient marble quarries. It is marked with the usual brown signpost (for antiquities). Two more kouroi can be found in the ancient quarries of Flerio – nice walking territory near the village of Melanes. A great day’s adventure kouroi spotting!
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Thanks!
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I have re-blogged the post – I really thought it was interesting and fun🌹
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Reblogged this on Letters from Athens and commented:
I thought this was an interesting post from Debi at My Kitchen Witch. For anyone going to Naxos and/or interested in Greek antiquities
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I love these old stories. Makes the past more real. Great post.
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It’s great when you can bring history alive!
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Amazing story, it was very helpful for me in discovering this place! Thanks for sharing!
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I’ve learned that you can find amazing things in the most unlikely places. You just have to look and be curious.
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[…] of the island near Apollonas where marble quarries were located and where the ancient collosus of a carved and discarded kouros can still be found. Despite their lack of Greek, the villagers managed to convey the stark seasonal […]
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