Portrait of a Priestess at The British Museum, London

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In southwestern Anatolia, modern-day Turkey, the Hekatomnid dynasty held sway for much of the 4th century BC under Persian rule. Maussollos, the most renowned ruler of this dynasty, is celebrated for his magnificent tomb, the Mausoleum at Halikarnassos. Like other satraps of the era, Maussollos forged ties with both Greece and Persia to further his own political aspirations, while the dynasty was a generous patron of sanctuaries throughout the Greek world. This young woman wears the court hairstyle and head-cloth characteristic of the Hekatomnid ruling dynasty. Maussollos of Karia has been credited with relocating the new city of Priene in Ionia, where he may have initiated construction on the temple of Athena Polias. This artifact was discovered at this site, and it is believed to represent a young priestess of the cult of Athena Polias. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned using photogrammetry (processed with Agisoft PhotoScan)