Damophon

Damophon: sculpturesMarble sculptures from the sanctuary of Demeter and Despoina at Lykosoura, Arcadia, by Damophon, 190–180 bce; at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

Damophon (flourished 2nd century bce) was an ancient Greek sculptor of Messene, who executed many statues at Messene, Megalopolis, Aegium, and other cities of the Peloponnese. Soon after 183 bce he repaired Phidias’s sculpture of Zeus at Olympia, which had been damaged by an earthquake. Considerable fragments, including three colossal heads from a group sculpted by Damophon and representing Demeter, her daughter Despoina, Artemis, and the giant Anytus, were found on the site of Lykosoura in Arcadia, where there was a temple of Despoina. The garment of Despoina is decorated with reliefs. A coin shows the statue with two figures standing, two seated.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.