Why do Greek statues have smooth bodies, although Greeks are Mediterraneans and are supposed to be hairy?

Question

Why do Greek statues have smooth bodies, although Greeks are Mediterraneans and are supposed to be hairy?

Answer 1

Have you ever tried to sculpt body hair out of marble?

Answer 2

The sculptor was not creating a realistic depiction, he was creating an "ideal"

The Greek (and Roman) ideal of male beauty was young healthy and hairless (more or less)

Answer 3

Probably hard to sculpt hair.  Hairless looks better anyway.  Art rarely reflects 100% of reality.  It's just based on reality then enhanced to become even more enticing/beautiful/spiffy.

Answer 4

Most people are hairy, but (a) the hair is not particularly visible and (b) trying to make hair on a stone carving is not trivial.

Answer 5

Greek were putting a lot of time and attention to their physical appearances. I would not be surprised to know that they were already shaving their whole body, as most would not grow beard, so its possible to think that they were preserving their body pretty much hairless.

Answer 6

The Greek artists and people had "ideal forms" and they often were very fit men - some had beards - others did not depending on what age the subject was and what era it was carved in.  There was also the fact that after Greek men would work out and then, while still sweaty and oily, would use a type of blade to scrape the sweat, oil and hair off.