description Laocoon and His Sons Overview
The Laocoon and His Sons sculpture depicts a tragic moment from Greek mythology. Crafted from Roman marble around 20 BC, it portrays the priest Laocoon and his two sons struggling against sea serpents sent by Athena to punish Troy. This Hellenistic relic showcases masterful realism and emotional intensity, representing a pivotal scene of conflict and loss. It is studied by art historians, archaeologists, and those interested in classical Greek narrative.
help Laocoon and His Sons FAQ
Where is Laocoon and His Sons displayed?
The marble group is in the Octagonal Court of the Pio-Clementino Museum, part of the Vatican Museums in Rome. It was placed there shortly after its discovery in 1506. Pope Julius II acquired it for the Vatican collection.
When was Laocoon and His Sons discovered?
It was unearthed on January 14, 1506, in a vineyard on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, near the site of Nero's Golden House. Michelangelo was reportedly among the first to inspect the find. Its discovery influenced Renaissance sculpture almost immediately.
What myth does Laocoon depict?
The statue shows the Trojan priest Laocoon and his sons being strangled by sea serpents, a punishment from the gods, sometimes Athena or Poseidon, for warning the Trojans against the Wooden Horse. Virgil's Aeneid describes the scene in Book II. The serpents were sent from the sea.
Who sculpted the original Laocoon?
The signature of three Rhodian sculptors, Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus, appears on the base of the marble group. The Roman marble is generally considered a copy of a Greek bronze original. Pliny the Elder wrote about the original in his Natural History.
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