The ''Varvakeion'' Athena
Copy from AD 200-250 of the original from 438 BC.
Statuette of goddess Athena, made of Pentelic marble. Found in 1880 in Athens, near the Varvakeion school. Known as the Varvakeion Athena, this statuette is the most faithful and best preserved copy of the cult statue of the Athena Parthenos by Pheidias, which was erected in the Parthenon in 438 B.C. The original, which was approximately twelve times larger than the Varvakeion copy, had the naked parts of the body made of ivory, whereas the rest of the statue was faced with leaves of gold.
Athena wears the Attic peplos. Her entire breast is covered by a scaly aegis adorned with the gorgoneion at the centre and snakes around the edge. On her head she wears an Attic helmet with raised cheekpieces and three crests, the one in the middle ending at the front in a sphinx and the side ones in winged horses (pegasoi). In her right palm stands a Nike, about to fly. The left arm rests on her shield. On the inside of the shield is Erichthonios, coiled as sacred snake. Traces of red and yellow paint are preserved in many parts of the statue.
Height 1,05 m.