Laocoön is one of the most celebrated sculptures of classical antiquity, formally known as the “Laocoön Group.” The sculpture depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons struggling against sea serpents sent by the gods. This masterpiece was carved in white marble and is attributed to the Hellenistic sculptors Agesander, Polydorus, and Athenodorus of Rhodes.

The sculpture was discovered in 1506 in the ruins of the Domus Aurea in Rome and quickly became a Renaissance icon, influencing many artists of the era, including Michelangelo. Currently on display in the Vatican Museums, the Laocoön Group is admired for its dramatic expressiveness, anatomical detail, and dynamic composition, capturing the agony and struggle of Laocoön and his sons against the serpents. The sculpture is a remarkable example of the Hellenistic sculptors’ ability to portray intense emotions and fluid movement in stone, making it one of the most valuable treasures of the world’s artistic heritage.