Kleobis and Biton is the name conventionally given to a pair of lifesize Archaic Greek statues, or kouroi, which are now in the Archaeological Museum at Greece. The statues date from about 580 BC and come from Argos in the Peloponnese, although they were found at Delphi.
Kleobis and Biton were two legendary brothers who, according to Greek mythology, took the place of oxen in pulling their mother's cart 45 stadia (eight kilometres) from Argos to the temple of Hera. For their piety and strength their mother, Cydippe, prayed to the goddess to give them whatever is best to man. After the feast the youths lay down in the temple of Hera, slept and never woke. Herodotus, who relates the story, says that the citizens of Argos donated a pair of statues to the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi.
Inscriptions on the base of the statues identify them as Kleobis and Biton, and also identify Polymides of Argos as the sculptor: something which was very unusual at such an early date. The statues are in what is regarded as a typical Peloponnesian style: massive and muscular. But they are not intended to be lifelike representations of Kleobis and Biton, even assuming the brothers were historical rather than mythical figures. The statues are ideal representations of the virtues of masculine strength and piety.
Cleobis and Biton (also called Cleops and Bitias 2), who are said to have surpassed all men in brotherly love and in affection towards their mother, are remembered for having performed a noble deed, which justified the pious prayer that caused their death.
Being exhausted after performing such a huge effort, Cleobis and Biton lay down in the temple and went to sleep, while their mother Cydippe 2, whom many had congratulated for having borne such children, prayed to Hera to grant her children whatever was the best thing a man could receive.
It is added, however, that they died, after the aforementioned prayer, on their return to Argos, and that Cydippe 2, realizing that there was nothing better for mortals than to die, died herself a willing death.
In Greek mythology, Biton and Kleobis were Argives, the sons of Cydippe, a priestess of Hera.
The oxen which were to pull her cart were overdue and her sons, Kleobis and Biton, pulled the cart the entire way (45 stadia, or 8.3 km/5.1 miles).
Inscriptions on the base of the statues identify them as Kleobis and Biton, and also identify Polymides of Argos as the sculptor: something which was very unusual at such an early date.
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