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Terracotta Sculpture: Greco-Roman Ball Player
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Terracotta Sculpture: Greco-Roman Ball Player

Terracotta Figurine of a Greco-Roman Ball Player

Terracotta Figurine of a Greco-Roman Ball Player

132 × 240  264 × 480  330 × 600
422 × 768  563 × 1,024  2,050 × 3,727
license: Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic
source: Wikimedia Commons
author: Jastrow
Description

A terracotta figurine depicts a nude man holding a baseball-sized ball above his head. His left foot is attached to a platform, and his right foot and left hand are missing. The figurine bears signs of wear and aging.

Date

Artifact: 3rd century BC

Photo: 2008

Information

This small terracotta statue, discovered in Corinth, depicts a Greek or Roman man playing a ball game. While this could depict a simple game of catch, the man may be playing the Greek sport episkyros or Roman harpastum.

Related Articles

Greek Episkyros | Roman Harpastum | History of Ball Sports | History of Soccer

Bibliography

Crowther, N. B. (2007). Sport in ancient times. Westport, CT: Praeger.

Harris, H. A. (1972). Sport in Greece and Rome. Cornell University Press.