The bronze sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome showcase distinct technical and artistic approaches despite sharing a Mediterranean cultural heritage. Greek bronzes (8th–1st century BCE) pioneered the hollow lost-wax casting method, allowing dynamic poses like the iconic "Discobolus." Their surfaces featured intricate cold-working details – individually inserted copper lips, silver teeth, and stone eyes creating startling realism.

Roman sculptors (3rd century BCE–4th century CE) perfected mass production through piece-mold casting, often copying Greek originals. Their works show thicker metal walls for durability, with less emphasis on anatomical precision. Where Greek artists pursued idealized perfection (e.g., Polykleitos' canon), Roman portraits prioritized verism – wrinkles, scars, and aging features conveying authority.

Technical analysis reveals Greek bronzes used tin-rich alloys (12-15%) for golden hues, while Roman pieces adopted leaded bronze (5-7% tin) for easier casting. The Greeks' "direct lost-wax" technique created unique works, whereas Roman "indirect casting" from plaster molds enabled replication. These differences reflect Greece's artistic innovation versus Rome's engineering pragmatism in classical bronze sculpture.