Fragment of the Athena Parthenos

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Copy after the gold and ivory devotional statue erected by Phidias in the Parthenon at the end of the fifth-century BC. Athena Parthenos, a massive chryselephantine sculpture, was crafted by Phidias and his skilled assistants within the hallowed halls of the Parthenon in Athens. The goddess herself was revered through this iconic work, which served as an essential character of her divine essence. Replicas and works inspired by it have been created throughout history, reflecting both ancient and modern artistic expressions. Phidias began crafting this masterpiece around 447 BC, a testament to his unparalleled skill as a sculptor in ancient Greece. However, the gold sheets were removed by Lachares in 296 BC to fund his troops, only to be replaced with bronze that was later gilded. A devastating fire ravaged the sculpture about 165 BC, but it was carefully restored. Despite the passage of time and the ravages of war, Athena Parthenos continued to stand tall within the Parthenon well into the fifth century AD, when the Romans eventually removed it. Its legacy lives on, with accounts of its whereabouts mentioning it in Constantinople as far back as the 10th century.