Head of Athena

myminifactory

This sculpture is a masterful cast of Athena's head in the Western Pediment. Athena appears here with an unmistakable presence that differs from her form on the East Pediment. As there, she serves as a vigilant witness to or overseer of the battle unfolding before her. In stark contrast, however, she stands motionless and detached in the West Pediment, as if observing from a distinct plane. She refrains from making any gesture toward the warriors and extends no individual support, instead maintaining an air of impartiality. Since she occupies another level, she does not compartmentalize the pediment as she does on the east side. In fact, the designer has adopted a distinctly different approach to the field of the West Pediment. The two forces are evenly distributed throughout the gable, rather than being relegated to the right or left sides. This unique arrangement makes possible a traditional compositional scheme featuring paired opponents engaging in one-on-one combat, resulting in three pairs on each side of Athena.