A Reflective Approach Inspired By Sysphus And Asteroid 1866 Sysphus – Leeds, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 47.383 W 001° 31.925
30U E 596702 N 5961125
This two piece sculpture in Clarence Dock shows life size bronze figures pushing stainless steel balls towards a canal. It was installed in November 2007.
Waymark Code: WMEX3F
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/16/2012
Views: 1
Although the figure is in modern dress and the setting is in a very modern area of office blocks, it is inspired by the myth of Sysphus.
In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever.
In this sculpture by Kevin Atherton the ball furthest from the canal is 2 metres in diameter, whilst the one next to the canal is 3 metres in diameter. This difference in size represents the task getting harder the nearer the pusher gets to his destination.
Asteroid 1866 Sysphus was discovered in 1972 by the Swiss astronomer Professor Paul Wild. With a diameter of approximately 10km it is the largest of the Apollo class of asteroids. Apollo asteroids are Earth-crosser asteroids with orbits very close to Earth and therefore potentially dangerous to Earth (and dinosaurs).
1866 Sysphus is a binary asteroid that has a small moon orbiting it. Based on the fact that this sculpture is in two parts it is appropriate that the asteroid is also in 2 parts.
Professor Paul Wild was director of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Berne from 1980 to 1991. He observed at Zimmerwald Observatory, near Berne. During his career he discovered a total of 94 different asteroids.
Website of the Extraterrestrial Location: [Web Link]
Website of location on Earth: [Web Link]
Celestial Body: Asteroid
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