The fairly crude and sketchy technique used on the features, the unbalanced structure with its very disproportionately protruding eyes, seem to argue in favour of an archaic period work from the 7th to the 6th century BC, a dating which has been accepted for some time. However, despite the crude nature of the incisions on certain anatomical details, the suppleness of the pose and the animation of the limbs involved in movement suggest a revised dating, placing the bronze among the works of the early 5th century BC, and the crude technique overall tallies well with what is known of the Arcadian workshops.

Unfortunately, the statuette lacks the attributes which it would have held, providing a definite identification. The right hand has disappeared, snapped at the wrist and part of the left hand is missing. The pose, which can only indicate an Olympian deity, could just as easily be Zeus brandishing a thunderbolt as Poseidon holding a trident. On the back of the right hand, the eagle of Zeus or the dolphin of the god of the seas could have rested. However the position of the flexed fingers does not allow a decision to be made with complete certainty either way.

P. P.-H.