Discobolus Palombara - Rome, Italy
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 41° 54.074 E 012° 29.915
33T E 292511 N 4641836
A classic Roman sculpture that helped celebrate the 1996 Olympics on a U.S. postage stamp.
Waymark Code: WM188FN
Location: Lazio, Italy
Date Posted: 06/18/2023
Views: 2
If frequent imitation and the ability to withstand the test of time is any indication of popularity, Myron’s 5th century BC bronze statue of a discus thrower would have to rate very highly. Though the original has been lost, several descriptions of it exist in ancient texts attributing the statue to the Greek sculptor. It was especially popular among the ancient Romans as several copies in different media have been uncovered.
This particular example was discovered in 1781 during excavations at the Villa Palombara in Rome. It was famously bought by Hitler in 1938 and brought to Germany where it was displayed at the Glyptothek in Munich. It was returned to Italy ten years later and has found a home in the Palazzo Massimo in Rome, one of Italy’s national art museums. It dates from around 140 AD and is made of marble.
Over the years, the Discobolus has become inextricably associated with the Olympic Games. The Olympics are no stranger to postage stamps and the discus thrower has made appearances on many of them. The U.S. has used the image twice: once for the 1932 games and again in 1996, albeit two different versions of the statue were depicted. (A third version appeared on a 1965 stamp promoting physical fitness.) This 1996 stamp, which commemorated the Atlanta Olympics, specifically shows this version in the Palazzo Massimo branch of the Museo Nazionale Romano near the main railway terminal.
Stamp Issuing Country: United States
Date of Issue: 19-Jul-1996
Denomination: 32c
Color: brown
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: Not listed
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