In the depths of the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia lies a remarkable ancient Greek statue dating back to the 2nd or 1st century BC. Known as the Croatian Apoxyomenos, this bronze figure of an athlete performing the act of scraping sweat and dust from his body was discovered by chance in 1996 and has since captivated art historians and the public alike. The meticulous restoration of this rare and well-preserved artifact has revealed insights into the artistic mastery of the ancient Greeks and shed light on the fascinating history of this remarkable find.
The Discovery of the Croatian Apoxyomenos
The Croatian Apoxyomenos was discovered in 1996 by Belgian tourist René Wouters, an avid sports diver and amateur photographer who had been visiting Croatia’s Lošinj island for years. While diving near the small islet of Vele Orjule, Wouters stumbled upon the bronze statue lying on the sandy seabed at a depth of around 45 meters. Recognizing the significance of his find, Wouters promptly reported the discovery to the Croatian Ministry of Culture in 1998.
In 1999, a team of divers from the Ministry of Culture, the Archaeological Museum in Zadar, the Special Police, and the Submar d.o.o. company carefully raised the statue from the sea. Upon its retrieval, the Apoxyomenos was found to be covered in marine organisms that had adhered to its surface over the centuries. Rather than using harsh chemical agents, the restoration team employed only mechanical precision tools to meticulously remove these organic encrustations, marking the first conservation process of its kind in Croatia.
A Rare and Remarkable Artifact
The Croatian Apoxyomenos stands at an impressive 6 feet 3.5 inches (1.92 m) in height and is mounted on a 10-centimeter (3.9 in) high original bronze base. The base is decorated with a repeating pattern of alternating square and swastika motifs, a design that has sparked debate among art historians. Based on the statue’s stylistic features and the radiocarbon dating of organic material found within it, experts believe the Croatian Apoxyomenos dates back to the 2nd or 1st century BC.
Of the eight known Apoxyomenos statues in existence, the Croatian example is the most complete and best-preserved. Unlike the famous Lysippos-attributed Vatican Apoxyomenos, the Croatian version keeps its hands at hip level rather than at the level of the forearm. This subtle difference, along with the exceptional quality of the casting and the statue’s overall beauty, suggest the work of a highly skilled ancient Greek sculptor whose identity remains unknown.
Insights into Ancient Greek Art and Culture
The Croatian Apoxyomenos offers a unique window into the artistic mastery and cultural traditions of the ancient Greek world. Art historian Antun Karaman has described the statue as embodying the transition from the classical Greek period, when “man, with the help of philosophy, begins to seek refuge in the invisible,” to the emerging Hellenistic era, which embraced a more relativistic and impermanent view of existence.
The discovery of organic materials inside the statue, including shards of wood, twigs, fruit seeds, and the nest of a small rodent, has also provided intriguing clues about the statue’s history. Radiocarbon dating of these materials suggests that the Apoxyomenos did not immediately fall into the sea after its creation but rather sometime between 20 BC and 110 AD, potentially during a storm that caused it to be thrown overboard from a Roman merchant ship.
Unresolved Mysteries and Ongoing Debate
The discovery of the Croatian Apoxyomenos has also sparked ongoing debate and unanswered questions among scholars. Archaeologists remain divided over whether the model for the sculptor was left-handed or right-handed, with some pointing to the more developed musculature on the left shoulder as evidence of a left-handed subject.
Furthermore, Croatian archaeologist Nenad Cambi has challenged the conventional classification of the statue as an “Apoxyomenos,” arguing that the figure is not actually cleaning his own body but rather the small curved instrument known as a strigil. Cambi believes a more accurate name for this type of statue would be the “Strigil Cleaner.”
The Croatian Apoxyomenos stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient Greek art and the thrill of archaeological discovery. This remarkable bronze statue, raised from the depths of the Adriatic Sea after more than two millennia, has captivated scholars and the public alike with its exceptional preservation and the insights it offers into the artistic mastery and cultural traditions of the ancient Greek world.
Through the meticulous restoration process and ongoing research, the Croatian Apoxyomenos continues to reveal its secrets and spark new debates, ensuring that this ancient masterpiece will continue to fascinate and inspire for generations to come.
