Statue of a bearded man
- Audio guide stop: 561
- Gallery: Room 72
- Culture: Cypro-Classical I
- Made in: Cyprus
- Date: 450 BC-425 BC
- Object type: statue
- Materials: limestone
- Museum number: 1872,0816.39
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is the upper part of a colossal limestone statue of a bearded man, carved in Cyprus between 450 and 425 BC. Though only a fragment remains, the original figure stood at least 2 meters tall and is thought to have depicted a worshipper or priest. He wore a pleated tunic and a draped cloak with an intricate zig-zag fold. The right arm extended outward at a sharp angle, while the stump of the left arm once held a laurel wreath. His head is crowned with a floral decoration beneath curling snail-like beard patterns and sharp, incised lines for the moustache. His face is striking—sharp cheekbones, defined eyes, and a slight smile. The statue was probably part of the sanctuary of Apollo near Dali, now known as Idalion. Made from fine limestone and expertly carved, it reflects the artistic and cultural achievements of ancient Cyprus during the Cypro-Classical I period.
See it in person
Statue of a bearded man is on display in Room 72 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 561, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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