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Calamis

500 BC – 460 BC

Famous ancient sculptor

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About Calamis

Lived 500 BC – 460 BC. Calamis was a sculptor.

Calamis (; fl. 5th century BC) was a sculptor of ancient Greece. He was possibly from Boeotia, but nothing certain is known of his life although he is credited with having lived in Athens, and his sculptures are representative of Athenian sculpture. Although none of his works survives, he is known for his talent and skill in sculpting animals, especially horses, as opposed to the human body. He is known to have worked in marble, bronze, gold, and ivory, and was famed for statues of horses, which Pliny says were unrivaled.

According to Pausanias (9.16.1) , Calamis produced a statue of Zeus Ammon for Pindar, and mentions a Hermes Criophorus for Tanagra (9.22.1) . He produced his most ambitious work, a 30-cubit statue of Apollo for Apollonia Pontica (on modern St. Ivan Island, Bulgaria; Pliny the Elder 4.92, 34.39, Strabo 7.6.1, p. 319) . His Sosandra was praised by Lucian , and may have been copied for Aspasia , which in turn was copied by the Romans.

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Important facts

Born
500 BC
Birth century
Died
460 BC, Athens
Occupation
Also known as
Kalamis

People in Calamis's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Calamis's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Calamis?

famous ancient sculptor

When was Calamis born?

Calamis was born in 500 BC.

When did Calamis die?

Calamis died in 460 BC in Athens.

What was Calamis's occupation?

Calamis was a sculptor.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Calamis

· Wikidata: Q918382

· DBpedia: Calamis (5th century BC)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Calamis. https://biography.guide/calamis-sculptor/

MLA: "Calamis." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/calamis-sculptor/.

Chicago: "Calamis." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/calamis-sculptor/.

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