Death of Laocoon

The "Death of Laocoon" is a famous ancient sculpture depicting the Greek priest Laocoon and his sons being attacked by giant sea snakes. According to myth, Laocoon warned the Trojans against accepting the Trojan Horse, suspecting trickery. The gods, who favored the Greeks, sent the serpents to punish him. The sculpture captures the intense, anguished struggle and pain as Laocoon and his sons are attacked, illustrating their dramatic and tragic resistance. It is celebrated for its realistic anatomy, emotional intensity, and mastery of how the human body expresses suffering, making it a masterpiece of Hellenistic art.