Statue of Athena

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Jan van der Crabben
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published on 16 August 2023
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Marble statue of Athena, found in Italy, made in the 1st century CE. The ancient Greek goddess of war and wisdom was also known as Minerva to the Romans. She had dominion over various aspects of public life, including the military, justice, politics, and the arts.

In this particular depiction of Athena, she is portrayed wearing a helmet and a heavy robe. Her contemplative pose represents her role as a martial deity who values intellect and strategy over brute force. The breastplate she wears is adorned with the head of Medusa, symbolizing Athena's ability to conquer evil. Originally, this statue would have held a spear and possibly a figure of Nike, the goddess of victory, but it was later replaced with an owl.

Photographed in the British Museum, London, on loan by the National Museums Liverpool, World Museum.

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About the Author

Jan van der Crabben
Jan is the Founder and CEO of World History Encyclopedia. He holds an MA War Studies from King's College, and he has worked in the field of history-related digital media since 2006.

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APA Style

Crabben, J. v. d. (2023, August 16). Statue of Athena. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17741/statue-of-athena/

Chicago Style

Crabben, Jan van der. "Statue of Athena." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified August 16, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/17741/statue-of-athena/.

MLA Style

Crabben, Jan van der. "Statue of Athena." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Aug 2023. Web. 07 Oct 2024.

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