Marble Head of Athena

myminifactory

The bold gesture and fervent emotion etched on this colossal head stamp it as an extraordinary case of monumental art from the late third to the second century B.C., when an overstated baroque style dominated certain regions of the Mediterranean. The goddess was originally adorned with a helmet crafted from marble or bronze, which was added separately. Her ears are pierced for metal earrings that gleam in the light. This head comes from an over-life-sized statue that possibly depicted the goddess moving forward, striding confidently into battle. The statue may have stood proudly outdoors, serving as a monumental votive image of the warrior goddess in her role as protector of the city rather than within a temple as a sacred cult statue.