Achilles and Troilos
Achilles and Troilos
Datelate 2nd century CE
Mediummarble
Dimensionsobject (a): 20 x 16 1/2 x 8 in. (50.8 x 41.9 x 20.3 cm)
object (b): 12 1/2 x 9 x 4 in. (31.8 x 22.9 x 10.2 cm)
ClassificationSCULPTURE
Credit LineSBMA, Gift of Wright S. Ludington
Object number1992.37.1a,b
Subject(s)
- animal
- horse
- mythology
- men
- nudes
- figure
Collection
- Antiquity
Sub-Collection(s)
- Roman
On View
Not on viewLabel TextOne story from the Trojan war stated that the city of Troy could never fall while its youngest prince Troilos was still alive. Wanting to ensure success for the Greek side, the hero Achilles ambushed and killed the prince outside the city walls. Many images of this event exist in different media and it is likely that this sculpture is a miniature version of another more monumental example. In most other depictions, Troilos is shown smaller than Achilles, demonstrating the relative importance of the Greek hero in the broader story of the war. Here they are the same size, indicating an interest in promoting the Trojan prince in the story from a boy to a warrior in his own right.
