I recently posted about The Boxer, an incredible Greek antique sculpture housed in Rome (https://getbacklauretta.com/2026/09/17/the-boxer-an-undisputed-masterpiece-of-ancient-greek-sculpture/). This work, the so-called Hellenistic Prince, was discovered about a month earlier than The Boxer in 1885, within the same area of Rome. It also appeared to have been purposely buried in antiquity, probably to protect it from pillaging.

Both life-sized sculptures are now housed in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme in Rome, where they are beautifully displayed within a very rich collection of ancient art.

This work probably dates to the 2nd century BCE and was created using the lost-wax casting technique. The eyes would have been made of other material and inserted after the cast was complete, but they are now lost.

The statue portrays a nude young man with traces of a beard, leaning on a spear in what is called an “heroic pose,” taken from Lysippos’ Heracles. Some scholars believe that the young man is actually a Roman general, portrayed by a Greek artist working in Rome.

The detailing is spectacular. The presence of this person is incredible.

This collection is absolutely outstanding! I can’t wait to return and study everything in more detail. I count my lucky stars that I am able to live near such art.