1. The gold ivory statue of Athena by Maria Gkougkoutsi.

2. Pericles and Phidias In the 5 th century B.C Pericles commissioned his close friend and renowned architect and sculptor Phidias to help in the construction and decoration of the Parthenon, the temple which would house the statue of Athena

3. The Acropolis Phidias’s apprentices made many of the statues in the Acropolis whereas Phidias himself took up the difficult task of sculpting the statue of Athena dedicated to the patron goddess of Athens, Athena Parthenos.

4. Location The statue was to be placed in the Parthenon where it could be seen by everyone. It would serve as a symbol of the power and wealth the city- state of Athens possessed at the time.

5. The statue The statue was about 9-11 meters high. It was hollow with a wooden armature supporting the outer surfaces of the golden drapery, and the ivory flesh of Athena. Athena was standing up wearing an ankle-length tunic with a Medusa and two snakes on the breastplate. She had a helmet decorated with a Sphynx and two Pegasi on her head. Her sandals were decorated with reliefs depicting the battle between the Lapithons and the Cen taurs.

6. Description A gorgon was depicted on her auspices. In one hand she held a winged Nike (meaning victory) which she offered to the Athenians. In the other,there was a spear showing a dragon. Her shield depicted the battle of the Amazons on the outside and the battle of the Giants on the inside. The birth of Pandora was depicted on the base

7. Phidias and the Athenians After the statue’s construction the Athenians accused Phidias of embezzling gold. Luckily, he managed to prove his innocence by dismantling the auspice of Athena and weighing it.

8. What happened to the statue It is claimed that the Romans removed the statue from the Parthenon, while others hold that it ended up in Constantinoples. The statue has not survived to this day but several marble replicas have been found, one of them exhibited at the National Archaeological museum.

10. 5. In one hand Athena held a. a medusa b. an owl c. a winged Nike 6. On the other hand she held a. a spear and a shield b. an owl and a shield c. a Nike and a shield 7. When Phidias finished the statue, the Athenians a. were pleased with him b. did not like the statue c. accused him of stealing gold 8. In the Archaeological museum we can see a. the real statue b. a replica of the statue c. a photo of the statue

11. ANSWERS 1. b 2. b 3. c 4. a 5. c 6. a 7. c 8.b