Polykleitos: A Canon of Beauty and Perfection

When one uses the term ‘antiquity’ they usually think of ancient Rome and ancient Greece. This usually comes to mind since they are the most referenced ancient cultures from history. The ancient Greeks are thought of as great innovators in all academic fields, making advances far beyond their own time. Ancient Romans, although, were a great influence but they borrowed from the Greeks. The surviving knowledge of the ancient Greeks is attributed to the Romans, for without their faithful copying and studies of prized Grecian sculpture most would have been lost to time. Most Greek ‘originals’ were lost but Roman accurate copying allows us to gain entrance into Greek culture, life, and art