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Modern Description: The road rounds the northern tip of the island and finally drops down to sea-level, regaining human habitation at the village of Apóllonas (35km), set between two small coves on the northeastern tip of the island. The gigantic *abandoned kouros of Apollonas lies in the cradle of its own quarry, just above and to the west of the main road, 500m south of the harbour. This massive figure, 10.7m in stature and probably representing the bearded god Dionysos, would, if it had been completed, have been the largest solid monolithic sculpted figure of Greek Antiquity. Its dimensions and boldness still astonish.
Because they are unfinished and considerably eroded, it is notoriously difficult to date these pieces, but the work is believed to have been begun around 550 BC, slightly later than the estimated date for the Flerio kouroi. Larger tools have been used here than at Flerio: the upper surface is covered with the marks of a very large bronze point, used once again perpendicularly to the surface. Around the supine figure, the native rock bears the parallel striations left from the ‘cleaning' of the surface, after the stone had been cored out with drills and picks in order to free and delineate the statue. A perfectly cylindrical hole in the rock scarp beside the feet of the statue served as a capstan-hole for the winching of debris out from the long, narrow space. The projecting arms and hands—a position for receiving offerings—have broken and eroded with time, but the eyes, nose, beard and pectorals all retain some definition.
Once again this presents considerable difficulties of transportation, given an estimated weight of 130 tons. The descent to the sea is steep: the beginnings of the stone ramp which had to be cut down to the shore is just visible to the right of the steps as you climb up.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kouros_of_Apollonas
Wikidata ID: Q1167127

Info: McGilchrist's Greek Islands

(From McGilchrist’s Greek Islands, © Nigel McGilchrist 2010, excerpted with his gracious permission. Click for the books)

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