Eirene and Ploutos

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Peace and Wealth, depicted as mother and child. Pausanias, a renowned Greek travel writer from the second century CE, wrote about Kephisodotos, a skilled sculptor who crafted a sculpture of "Peace embracing the child Wealth in her arms" for the Athenians. The bronze statue stood proudly in the Agora, although this Roman copy may not accurately represent the original work, as the child's head is possibly a separate addition. The original was likely created to coincide with the establishment of the cult of Eirene in 374 BCE, following a peace treaty with Sparta, or in 371 BCE, after a peace agreement was signed among all Greeks. Eirene stands nearly frontally, placing her weight on her left leg and keeping her right leg relaxed, clad in a peplos and a himation draped over both shoulders. Her long hair is styled with some rolled around a taenia, while an ampyx is visible at the front, and she wears earrings adorned with metal attachments. Thick-soled sandals complete her attire as she turns her head to a 3/4-view, gazing down at the baby Ploutos cradled in her left arm, along with the keras. Ploutos sits in a 3/4-view position to the left, wearing a himation draped over his knees, lower legs, and thighs as he sits on Eirene's arm. His legs are crossed, and his head is shown in a 3/4-back-view to the left, tilted up to look at Eirene. He reaches out with his right arm to Eirene and keeps his left arm down by his side.