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Charioteer of Delphi facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Delphi charioteer
Charioteer of Delphi

The Charioteer of Delphi is a very famous ancient Greek bronze statue. It was made around 477 BC, which was a long, long time ago! This amazing sculpture stands about 1.8 meters (almost 6 feet) tall. It shows a young man who has just won a chariot race.

Discovering the Charioteer

Where it was Found

This incredible statue was found in a special place called the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. French archaeologists discovered it in 1896. They were digging carefully to uncover ancient treasures.

What Else Was Found

When the Charioteer was found, other pieces were nearby. These included parts of a sculpted chariot and some sculpted horses. There was also a small sculpted person, who was probably the charioteer's groom. All these pieces were once part of a much larger monument.

Why the Statue Was Made

Celebrating a Victory

The Charioteer monument was ordered by a man named Polyzalos. He was a powerful ruler from Sicily. He wanted to remember his big victory in the chariot races around 477 BC. Winning these races was a huge honor in ancient Greece!

Buried for Safety

At some point, the statue was buried. This was a common practice in ancient Greece. It was probably buried because it had been damaged and could not be fixed easily. Burying it helped to preserve it for thousands of years until it was found again.

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Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Auriga de Delfos para niños

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