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The Statue Of Athena Parthenos


ellinas
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Within the temple reigned a colossal, chryselephantine statue of the goddess Athena, rising together with its base to more than 12 m. in height. It was the work of Pheidias. We can have only an idea of this splendid statue from small Roman copies. The goddess, standing, wore a long peplos and the aegis, adorned with the apotropaic head of the Gorgon Medusa,. On her head she wore a skillfully conceived helmet, richly decorated with mythological beasts. She held the statue of the goddess Nike on her right hand, and with her left, her shield which rested upright on the ground. Her spear stood on the ground propped against her left shoulder. Favorite myths were depicted on various parts of the statue. Depicted in relief on the exterior of the shield was the Amazonomachy; painted on the interior, the Gigantomachy was shown. Scenes in relief on the sides of her sandals were drawn from the Centauromachy. Finally, the base of the statue was decorated in relief with a representation of the Birth of Pandora.

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