Statue

The Löwenmensch figurine, a lion-headed figurine from the Swabian Alps in Germany is another candidate for the oldest known statue in the world, dating to 30,000-40,000 years ago. About 12-in (30.4 cms) tall, this statue of an anthropomorphic cave lion was carved from a mammoth tusk. It was found in the same caves as the earliest musical instruments.

Löwenmensch By Thilo Parg

The figurine is 4 inches tall and carved from mammoth ivory. It is thought to represent a pregnant woman, and is one of the earliest known examples of figurative art. The Venus of Hohle Fels is on display at the Museum of Human Evolution in the city of Ulm, Germany.

The earliest known European statue of a female nude is the Willendorf Venus, dated to between 22,000 and 30,000 years ago.

Statues in Ancient Egypt held a meaning. The left leg in statues stepped forward to show the figure who at the time was alive. If built posthumously statues stood still. Their ears, pushed forward, showed how they listen to the people. An arm across the chest showed their strength.

Ancient Egyptians built King Ramesses II a statue with precise accuracy to be illuminated by the Sun. The sun illuminated King Ramesses II’s face in Aswan’s Abu Simbel temple just twice a year, marking key dates in the pharaoh’s life. Once on February 22nd for his coronation and again on October 22nd for his birthday.

The Great Sphinx of Giza, the largest monolith statue in the world, stands 73.5 metres (241 ft) long, 6 metres (20 ft) wide, and 20.22 m (66.34 ft) high. Giza, Egypt.

Great Sphinx of Giza.Usuario:Barcex

Many ancient statues weren't meant to be white. Over time, the paint on the statues wore off, and were completely colorless upon their discovery. This lead many sculptors to believe that the refined Greeks and Romans left their marble bare intentionally, creating a lasting trend.

In 1524 a statue of the Virgin Mary in Riga Cathedral was charged as being a witch. It was given a trial by water in the Daugava River. The statue floated, so it was denounced as a witch and burnt at Kubsberg.

The UK's first nude public statue since antiquity — an 18ft bronze Achilles — was installed in London's Hyde Park on June 18, 1822. The statue, which was created by sculptor Richard Westmacott, was commissioned by the Duke of Wellington to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Waterloo. It quickly caused a stir. Some people found it to be indecent, while others argued that it was a work of art and should be appreciated on its own merits.

In the end, the Duke of Wellington decided to add a fig leaf to the statue to appease public opinion. The fig leaf was made of lead and was attached to the statue's groin.

The statue with the fig leaf remained in Hyde Park until 1852, when it was moved to Waterloo Place. The fig leaf was removed in 1908, and the statue has been nude ever since.

A group of farmers in Shaanxi province, China, discovered a vast collection of terracotta statues on March 29, 1974 depicting the armies of the first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang. Estimates from 2007 were that the three pits containing the statutes held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses.

Spring Temple Buddha, located in the Zhaocun township of Lushan County, Henan, China, was for 16 years the tallest statue in the world. It was completed in 2002 and stands 128 m (420 ft) tall.

Spring Temple Buddha. By Zgpdszz 

The Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world at 182 m (597 ft) was unveiled in the Narmada district of Gujarat, India on October 31, 2018. The Statue of Unity depicts Indian freedom fighter and the country's first deputy prime minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950). 

At 40.44 meters (132.7 ft), Bolivia's Cristo de la Concordia  is the tallest statue of Jesus in the world.