Calamis (5th century BC)


Calamis 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 unrivalled.
According to Pausanias, Calamis produced a statue of Zeus Ammon for Pindar, and mentions a Hermes Criophorus for Tanagra, which was later depicted on Roman coins of the city. His statue of Apollo Alexikakos stood in the Ceramicus of Athens. He produced his most ambitious work, a 30-cubit statue of Apollo for Apollonia Pontica. His Sosandra was praised by Lucian, and may have been copied for Aspasia, which in turn was copied by the Romans.