Eion Herms Summary

The rise of democratic institutions in Athens with growing naturalism of sixth-century BCE sculptures reflected the important development in Greek spirit of innovation and accomplishments (Sayre 59). In Herms, Kouroi and the Political Anatomy of Athens (Apr., 2007), Josephine Crawley Quinn looks at both sculpture types, Herms and Kouroi, relationship between them, roles of representations of male body in promoting and reinforcing the political ideals, democracy, in archaic Greece (Quinn, p. 83). The sculptures with different types and styles signified the different culture and political ideas of the certain region in that era. The article further discuss on connection between the herms and fifth-century Democratic ideology and how the mutilation …show more content…
83); herms is a quadrilateral pillar with the head of bearded man, arm stubs, and a phallus (Quinn, p. 84). Herms were usually found at the entrances to private houses, shrines, and major civic spaces of the cities. “These herms functioned as markers of boundaries and transitions between separate spaces, mediating the public or private divide in the doorway to a house and the secular or sacred one at the entrance to a shrine” (Quinn, p. 91). One example of democratic herms is Eion Herms. Author introduces “Eion Herms as an illustration of the 'democratic ideology' of the Athenian herms” (Quinn, p. 84). Eion herms were created in the aftermath of the Athenian victory over the Persians at Eion under the command of Cimon (Quinn, p. 84). However, the iconic thing was that none of the Eion herms contained the name of the generals. Eion herms were symbols of the mutual equality of the citizens as well as of their military strength as a community. The anonymity of the herms showcased the achievement of democratic ideals rather than individual’s …show more content…
95). Kouroi is a naked, beardless youth, striding forward, his arms by his side with fists clenched. These figures celebrate youth and good looks, refinement and nobility, autonomy and individuality (Quinn, p. 96). Kouroi were sculpture type that were innovated before the herms. Kouros and herms were contrast of each other. The herms were asserting the equality of all Athenian citizens, as opposed to the Kronos, which emphasized 'class-conscious' body language of comedies and tragedies (Quinn, p. 100). Basically, Athenian Herms were more democratic and egalitarian, while Kronos were more