pollonas and Melanes Kouroi are unique monuments to the history of ancient Greek sculpture. These colossal statues come chronologically after the Homeric epics, which presented the gods in a form very different from that of the old earth deites, who where represented by small idols. Now the gods were antropomophic, but also 'much taller than a tall man'. It is precisely this new concept which the kouroi, which are status of gods or heroes, express.

he Kouros of Melanes, also known as "Ellinas", can be seen at Flerio, where there is an ancient stone quarry. The name Ellinas ("Greek") comes from the ancient "Kouros" (7th century BC) measuring 6.40 metres, which lies on the ground of the ancient quarry, now in the corner of an orchard. It is worth mentioning that the Kouros of Melanes is under the exclusive protection of the Kondylis family, to whom the carefully- tended orchard belongs. The Kouros of Apollonas, Dionysus, of a lenght of 10 m, is located to the old settlement, Apollonas which has undergone tourist developments in the recent years.

Photos and text taken from "Naxos - Today and yesterday" (Toubis Editions)

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