Procne and Itys (sculpture)
Fifth-century BC marble group of Procne and Itys by Alcamenes.
The statue of Procne and Itys is a Greek marble sculpture from the fifth century BC, created by the sculptor Alcamenes. It once adorned the Acropolis of Athens and depicts the Athenian princess Procne about to strike her son Itys dead as revenge against her husband Tereus. The work is now exhibited in the Acropolis Museum of Athens.
- material
- Marble
- height
- 1.63 m (Procne, without head); 1.05 m (Itys)
- width
- 44 cm
- period
- Classical Greek era, circa 430 BC
- discovery_year
- 1836
- discovery_location
- In front of the western tower of the Propylaea, near the temple of Athena Nike
- current_location
- Acropolis Museum, Athens (inventory number 1358)
Lore & Background
In Greek mythology, Procne was an Athenian princess, daughter of King Pandion I, given as wife to King Tereus of Thrace. She bore him a son, Itys. Years later, Procne wished to see her sister Philomela. Tereus agreed to escort Philomela to Thrace, but during the journey he raped and imprisoned her, cutting out her tongue. He then lied to Procne, saying her sister had died. Philomela wove a tapestry revealing the truth and sent it to Procne. Procne rescued her sister and, to enact revenge on Tereus, slew their son Itys and fed him to his father during dinner. The gods transformed all three into birds: Procne into a nightingale, Philomela into a swallow, and Tereus into a hoopoe.
Reader's Guide
The statue of Procne and Itys is a significant surviving example of Classical Greek sculpture, attributed to the noted sculptor Alcamenes. It was mentioned by the traveller Pausanias in the second century AD, who noted the group as a dedication by Alcamenes. Discovered in 1836 near the temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis, the work is now housed in the Acropolis Museum. The sculpture captures the moment before Procne kills her son, a scene from a myth that explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and divine transformation. The statue is life-size, with Procne clothed in a thin chiton and himation, while the boy Itys clings to her, completely naked. The head of Procne, her right hand (which would have held a knife), and parts of Itys are missing; a marble head found nearby is presumed to belong but is not attached due to uncertainty. The work remains a key artifact for understanding both the artistic achievements of the Classical period and the enduring power of Greek myth.
Did You Know?
- The statue was dedicated by its creator, the sculptor Alcamenes.
- It was discovered in 1836 in front of the western tower of the Propylaea, near the temple of Athena Nike.
- Procne's head, right hand, and parts of Itys are not preserved; a marble head found nearby is not currently attached due to doubts about its identity.
- The myth ends with the gods transforming Procne into a nightingale, Philomela into a swallow, and Tereus into a hoopoe.
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