What are the kouros and kore figures?

They are the statues of young men (kouros) and young women (kore) from the Archaic Period of ancient Greece. They were life sized standing figures made of marble and represented mortal youths and maidens (not immortal gods), and were used for decorations. A kouros (male statue) represented an athletic youth (admired greatly by the Greeks), life sized, left foot slightly forward, arms at the sides. A kore (female statue) was done along the same lines. However, while the males were always nude, the females were always dressed.