The Apollonas Kouros is the largest known colossal statue found in Greece and it lies, abandoned, near the ancient quarry that its marble came from. It’s free to see, open 24 hours, and easy to find, near the fishing village of Apollonas on the northeast coast of Naxos Island.
What’s a Kouros?
A Kouros is a life-size or larger-than-life-size sculpture of a young Greek man that was created during the Archaic period in Greece. (That’s the 6th to the 7th centuries BC).
Kouroi (the plural of Kouros) and Kore (female Kouros) have been found in many parts of Greece.
When these colossal statues of naked young men were studied for their age and characteristics, archaeologists noticed that most of them were made of Naxian marble!
A Kouros is usually naked and its earliest forms seem to have been influenced by Egyptian (and perhaps even Syrian) mega-statues so they have an active stance and sometimes have one leg out in front, striding forward.
If you have more than one Kouros, you have Kouroi and what seems to be disappeared from most info about the Kouros of Apollonos village, is that although it’s the biggest yet found, the first was a Kore – a female Kouros!
Why are there Kouros on Naxos?
Something incredible happened in the seventh and sixth centuries B.C. on Naxos, an island in the Greek Cyclades island chain in the Aegean Sea.
Greece’s first monumental sculpture was created here because of a perfect mix of ingredients.
Naxos was a wealthy trading island that traded with Egypt, Syria, and the Greek world. Its wealthy aristocrats had the money to commission religious statuary and the marble mountains of the island was perfect for the task.
🗺️ Naxos Greece Travel Guide 2024
What is the Kouros of Apollonas?
The Kouros of Apollonas is the largest Kouros statue ever found. It is an unfinished marble statue of what is believed to be the Greek god Dionysus (or possibly the god Apollo).
The statue is sculpted from light grey Naxian marble and is 10.7 meters long. It is the earliest known example of monumental sculpture in Greece.
You can see the fault lines in the marble along sections of this unfinished depiction of Dionysus or Apollo, which is why the ancient sculptors abandoned the statue.
Practical Info: How to get to the Kouros of Apollonas Statue
Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades Greek islands and its main town (called Chora) is where most travelers stay.
The marble figure is located near one of the ancient marble quarries just outside the fishing village of Apollonas in the north part of the island.
Apollonas village is 36 km/22 miles from Chora and can be reached by car, bus, or boat.
🚌 By Bus
The public bus system serves the route via the coast road in summer, and all year round there is also a bus service from Naxos Chora to Apollon/Apollonas via the inland mountain route:
Line 2: Via Mainland Naxos (Halki, Filoti, Apeiranthos, Koronos) (52 km/32 miles), 1 hr, 45 minutes
Line 5: Via coastal road (only in high season), 1 hr.
You can find the bus lines and schedules here.
🚗 By Car
As you drive along the only road around Naxos, you approach the village from above and it’s on the crest of this hill that you’ll see a sign to the Kouros.
Park just off the road and walk along the path that leads to the Kouros. From here you can see Apollonas Bay, the village, and the Naxos coastline. It’s a nice place for this ancient statue to lie!
You can book your rental car for Naxos Island in advance and take advantage of early-bird prices.
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Other Kouros to see on Naxos
Melanes
If you can’t get to see the Kouros of Apollonas statue on this trip, perhaps you can see the Kouroi of Melanes, in Melanes Village.
Melanes visit is a short drive from Naxos Chora and can be combined with a visit to the Sanctuary of Demeter.
There are two Kouros – one is higher up on the hill left where it was carved next to the quarries.
The lower legs of the Kouros is kept near the statue, letting us know why this Kouros never made it off the island!
Archaeologists believe the statue, which is 5.7 meters in length, was broken when in transit to the workshops where the Kouros would have been more finely chiseled.
Naxos Chora
And if that’s not possible, there is the torso of a Kouros in the Naxos Archaeological Museum.
Other Notable Kouros to See in Greece
Athens
The Archaic Gallery on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum has a collection of 6th-century Kore that were buried by the Athenians in a pit on the Acropolis after the Battle of Salamis.
It’s where you’ll see all kinds of monumental Kouroi – it’s a must-see destination when you’re in Athens.
Delos
The Colossus of the Naxians is 9.7 meters high and you’ll find it at the Delos Archaeological Museum. it is now broken up into pieces.
Credit: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0
Delphi
The twin Kouroi, Kleobis and Biton can be found in the Archaeological Museum at Ancient Delphi.
Once you start noticing Kouros, you’ll find them everywhere!
