The Moschophoros statue is inscribed with the name Rhombos, identifying its donor. The inscription appears on the statue's plinth, although the beginning of the name is damaged; scholars have also proposed readings such as Kombos or Bombos.
The Moschophoros, or “calf-bearer,” is an approximately life-sized marble votive statue from the Acropolis of Athens. It shows a bearded man carrying a calf on his shoulders, with the animal's legs resting across his arms. The work is usually dated to about 570–550 BCE and is a major example of Archaic Greek sculpture.
Rhombos was probably an affluent Athenian who dedicated the statue to Athena. Its subject may express a sacrificial offering, with the calf symbolizing the animal brought to the goddess. This is why the name should not be confused with the sculptors Antenor, Nearchos, or Kritios, who are associated with other Archaic works or later artistic traditions.
The statue is incomplete and damaged, but its pose, patterned beard, stylized hair, and rigid frontal stance preserve the visual language of the Archaic period. It is now held by the Acropolis Museum in Athens.