A Discophore, British Museum.
The discophore (Greek, the "discus bearer", nudus talo incessens) was a bronze sculpture by the Greek sculptor, classic Policleto, creator of the Doriphor and the Diadúmenos, and his many Roman copies in marble. It is an early work of Policleto, dating from 450-440 BC. C. It should not, however, be confused with the Discóbolo de Miron which shows an athlete throwing the disc, not carrying it.
Like the Doriphor and the Diadúmenos, was created like example of the canon of Policleto of the ideal human form in sculpture. It represents a young athlete, muscled, solidly built, in a moment of reflection at the moment of undressing prepared to throw the disc and the moment in the fact throws it.
This type of polycott discophore, which was originally cast in bronze, has been preserved in Roman marble copies of the first and second centuries. Marble copies usually have a tree stump made of marble, as this material is weaker and heavier than bronze, so the stump is needed for support. These copies often lack arms, which are similarly restored frequently.
A copy at the Torlonia Museum in Rome shows you with a disk in your left hand. This copy suggests a connection with an Ephesus Torso. The copy of the Torlonia Museum is considered the most reliable interpretation from the archaeological point of view.
Since the head represents an ideal head, it is often related to the figure of Hermes. In reality, there are statues of Hermes with the helmet winged as an external attribute, which supports this interpretation. The heads of Policleto are not reliable portraits of specific people, so they refer to a mythological search. The mythological also is present in the athletes, because Hermes was also the god of the speech.
This reason was reiterated by his students, among others Lysippus. And although there are changes in the proportions, they are still pointing at the teacher.
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