Apollonas Kouros

"The colossal Kouros statues on the island of Naxos are some of its most fascinating archeological sites. The largest measures around 10 meters in length and is near the village of Apollonas in an abandoned marble quarry. It is dated to around the 6th or 7th century BC. Traditionally, a kouros would be a symbol of a younger man but the Kouros of Apollonas appears older and sports a full beard. The statues often depict the idea of youth but it’s thought the Kouros of Apollonas portrays a god, possibly Apollo or Dionysus. The statue is roughly carved though observers can make out its general shape. It was never completed most likely due to the overall size and weight, presumed to be around 80 tonnes, which would have made transporting it very difficult. It is also thought that the deep cracks in the statue may have happened during the carving causing the masons to abandon the gargantuan statue. You can hike from the village of Apollonas and the quarry and statue are open to visitors. There are some great sea views from here and a nice sandy beach to check out in the village. If you would like to see more of the island’s Kouros during your time in Naxos, there is another part-finished one in the village of Melanes from around the same era."

"The statue of Kouros in Apollonas is exceeding 10 meters in height. Kouroi are large marble statues depicting young males, which dominated Greek art after the Middle Archaic period. The statue dates back to the 8th century, and archeologists haven't come to a conclusion regarding whether the statue depicts the god Apollo or the god Dionysus. Despite the name given to it, evidence shows that the statue is not a Kouros. Kouroi are statues of young men with their arms attached to the torso and one leg slightly in front of the other. The statue in Apollonas, however, seems to wear a long cloak, and his face displays long hair and a beard. For that reason, most researchers believe that it depicts the god Dionysus."