Terracotta Head of Athena Lemnia by Phidias, Italy, 1900s

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Terracotta head of athena lemnia by phidias, italy 20th century the bronze original by phidias, made between 451 and 448 … Read more Terracotta head of athena lemnia by phidias, italy 20th century the bronze original by phidias, made between 451 and 448 bc for the athenians who had come as cleruchi, or colonists, to inhabit the island of lemnos, is known only from a very few roman marble replicas, to which must be added the head found near the rione terra in pozzuoli and the palagi head in bologna, the latter considered by scholars to be the most faithful to the original. The statue stood on an open-air pedestal on the acropolis of athens and was considered phidias's finest statue. The goddess is in a pensive, absorbed pose; her soft cheeks and harmonious nose accentuate her beauty, celebrated by numerous ancient writers, including lucian of samosata, who called it phidias's "work" par excellence, and pausanias, who specified: "the most notable of phidias's works is the statue of athena called lemnia, from the name of its donors." her hair is also distinctive, fashioned in symmetrical locks that convey a sense of body and softness. The statue features the aegis across its torso: this detail is a symbol of peace. The folds of the peplos display remarkable chiaroscuro effects. Her face, turned to the right, balances her raised left arm. Athena one of the most important goddesses in greek mythology, identified by the romans with minerva. Zeus's favorite daughter, athena was born fully grown from the god's head, armed with a shield adorned with the fearsome head of the gorgon medusa, who petrified anyone who looked at her, her spear, the aegis (a goatskin breastplate), and a helmet. She was also called pallas or parthenos ("the virgin"), and athens was home to the main temple dedicated to her, the parthenon: according to legend, it became hers as a reward for the gift of the olive tree she had given to the athenians. Athena was first and foremost the goddess of greek cities, of arts and crafts, and, in later mythology, of wisdom. She is also the goddess of war; among the gods, she was the greeks' staunchest supporter during the trojan war. After the fall of the city, however, they disregarded the sacredness of an altar dedicated to the goddess, where the trojan prophetess cassandra had taken refuge. To punish them, athena then asked poseidon, god of the sea, to unleash a storm that destroyed most of the greek ships on their way back from troy. The goddess was also the protector of agriculture and women's crafts, especially spinning and weaving. To men, however, she dedicated the invention of the plow and the flute, as well as the arts. Phidias a greek sculptor, born in athens around 490 and likely died around 430 bc, he was the most prolific and accomplished sculptor of the classical age, capable of mastering all materials and techniques, from sculpture in the round to bas-relief. He produced numerous works, and his work was characterized by the creation of highly demanding pieces. Among his first works was a chryselephantine statue (made of gold and ivory) of athena for the city of pellenae, followed by a bronze apollo parnopios, an athena promachos, and a lemnian athena. Around 450, he created the great chryselephantine statue of zeus for the temple of olympia, considered one of the seven wonders of the world at the time. All of these works have disappeared, with only a few fragmentary copies or iconographic reproductions on coins or gems remaining. In 447, pericles called him to collaborate, with the architects ictinus and callicrates, on the reconstruction of the parthenon, destroyed a few years earlier by the persians. Construction of the temple took about ten years, and phidias created an enormous quantity of sculptures for the monumental complex: in addition to the 40 statues placed in the two tympanums, he created 92 metopes and a 159-meter frieze depicting the panathenaic processions. He also designed the famous chryselephantine statue of athena parthenos, located inside the temple. It has since been destroyed, and only very small-scale copies and a few gemstones remain. His artistic career came to a sudden halt around 432 when he was unjustly accused, out of jealousy, of stealing part of the gold needed to create the great statue of athena parthenos. He likely ended his life a few years later, in prison or in exile. 92 metopes and 159 meters of frieze depicting the panathenaic processions. Product details height 28 cm width 18 cm depth 22 cm weight 12 kg museum-grade base included 14 x 14 x 14 See less