kouros

English

The "Getty kouros", a statue of a kouros in the collection of the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, California. Made of marble, it either dates to c. 530 BCE or might be a modern forgery.

Etymology

From Ionic Ancient Greek κοῦρος (koûros), variant of Attic κόρος (kóros, “boy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuːɹɒs/

Noun

kouros (plural kouroi)

1. A sculpture of a naked youth in Ancient Greece, the male equivalent of a kore.
   • 1974, Guy Davenport, Tatlin!:

     A redstone kouros from Sounion, this strapping young Amsterdammer, translated into the slenderer grace of the modern graminivore.

   • 1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae:

     The smiling kouros is the first fully free-standing sculpture in art.