Athena Parthena Parthenos Research Paper
The powerful goddess of wisdom and warfare, known as Athena, had a larger-than-life statue built in Parthenos by Pheidias during ancient times. The figure has been replicated and with numerous copies, yet the original cannot be found to this day. One truly remarkable and recent copy of Athena Parthenos was constructed in 1990 by Alan LeQuire in Nashville, Tennessee. Copies have been seen elsewhere, such as the “Varvakeion statuette”, created in the second century CE and considered the most complete and closest representation of the Athena Parthenos. These examples were created to resemble how the original cult sculpture appeared, which has been recited and rediscovered by historians through famous Greek figures, such as Plutarch and Pausanias.
Recount of the magnificent structure details that it was around 11.5 meters tall (26 cubits) and was made of carved ivory for flesh parts and gold (1140 kilos or 44 talents of it) for everything else, all wrapped around a wooden core and was even embellished with glass, copper, silver and jewels, making it more valuable than the Parthenon itself1. Other copies, such as the Varvakeion statuette, are made from different materials like marble and lack the same eloquence and added décor as the originally was once claimed to have been. These copies and the original pieces attempt to capture and depict the awe and power of the mythical character Athena, with her holding a winged Nike in her right hand and a serpent-entwined shield in the other. A floor length robe covers her body and upon her head lie a decorated triple-crested helm with a sphinx and two Pegasus wings on either side, power and wisdom emanating from the wise and aged stare into the distance. Eventually these statues may crumble and a new copy of Athena will arise, with similarities of the old model, or new creative methods of sculpting and greater detailed designs. Manifesting a mythical goddess’ image into the world is something humanity has become more keen with throughout its development, and the greatly emphasizes the importance of superstition and transcendent philosophies that entwine within our perceived realities.
Recount of the magnificent structure details that it was around 11.5 meters tall (26 cubits) and was made of carved ivory for flesh parts and gold (1140 kilos or 44 talents of it) for everything else, all wrapped around a wooden core and was even embellished with glass, copper, silver and jewels, making it more valuable than the Parthenon itself1. Other copies, such as the Varvakeion statuette, are made from different materials like marble and lack the same eloquence and added décor as the originally was once claimed to have been. These copies and the original pieces attempt to capture and depict the awe and power of the mythical character Athena, with her holding a winged Nike in her right hand and a serpent-entwined shield in the other. A floor length robe covers her body and upon her head lie a decorated triple-crested helm with a sphinx and two Pegasus wings on either side, power and wisdom emanating from the wise and aged stare into the distance. Eventually these statues may crumble and a new copy of Athena will arise, with similarities of the old model, or new creative methods of sculpting and greater detailed designs. Manifesting a mythical goddess’ image into the world is something humanity has become more keen with throughout its development, and the greatly emphasizes the importance of superstition and transcendent philosophies that entwine within our perceived realities.