APOKSIOMEN

THE BRONZE STATUE OF A GREEK ATHLETE

The Croatian Apoxiomen has enriched the Croatian cultural heritage as one of the most important archeological finds of all time. After having been on the bottom of the sea for 2000 years, the sculpture saw the light of day thanks to an accidental finding by a Belgian diver, Mr. René Wouters.

The statue of Apoxiomen was found on the seabed of Vele Orjule, islets which together with Male Orjule, Kozjak, Sv. Petar and Ilovik make an archipelago south-east from the island of Lošinj. It was lying on the depth of 45 m, stuck between two cliffs, which prevented it from sinking deeper.

Mr. René Wouters, aware of the importance of his discovery has, through the Belgian Embassy, informed the Croatian authorities on his finding. Three years after the discovery, in April 1999, the sculpture was finally taken out from the bottom of the sea after which demanding restoration and conservatory procedures followed.

On 18 May 2006, after years of extensive and extremely demanding restoration interventions, the bronze statue was finally made available to the Croatian public, and was exhibited in the Archeological Museum in Zagreb. The exhibition titled “Croatian Apoxiomen” was opened at the occasion of the International Museum Day on 18 May.

Apoxiomen shows an athlete who has finished competing and who is shown at the time of relaxation, when he is fully devoted to cleaning his body. It could also be that it is showing the winner or it concerns a general personification of anthlete.

The original Apoxiomen sculpture was probably made in 3rd and 4th century B.C., and style wise, it belongs between Ancient Classicism and Hellenism.

Croatian Apoxiomen is ranked seventh in the world, if its significance is compared with the same rank sculptures, and it is singled out for its high level of preservation and the fact that the original bronze base of the statue was preserved. The copy of the statue is exhibited in museum-gallery space of the Venetian Tower in Veli Lošinj.