Laocoon

The **Laocoön Group** is a renowned sculpture located in the Vatican Museums in Rome. Dating back to around 40–30 BC, the sculpture depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons, Antiphas and Thymbraeus, struggling desperately against two large sea serpents sent by the gods. This dramatic scene is drawn from Greek mythology, specifically from the episode in which Laocoön tries to warn the Trojans against accepting the Greek wooden horse during the Trojan War.

The sculpture was discovered in Rome in 1506 and was quickly recognized as one of the finest examples of Hellenistic art. Michelangelo, who was present at the excavation, held it in high regard. The sculpture is famous for its powerful expressiveness and detailed depiction of the human body in the throes of an inevitable fate. The tension in the muscles, the facial expressions, and the intricate composition give the piece a dramatic intensity that has captivated artists and visitors for centuries.

The Laocoön Group is an icon of classical art and a significant source of inspiration for Renaissance artists and later artists who have sought to understand and recreate the human emotional experience in sculpture.