Phidias sculpted a massive gold and ivory statue of Athena for the Parthenon in Athens in the 5th century BC. The statue stood about 9-11 meters tall and depicted Athena standing upright wearing armor decorated with Medusa and snakes. She held a winged Nike in one hand and a spear with a dragon in the other. After completing the statue, Phidias was falsely accused of embezzling gold but proved his innocence. The statue's fate after being removed from the Parthenon is unknown, but marble replicas have been found in museums today.

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

2. Pericles and Phidias
In the 5th 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 Centaurs.

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.

9. QUIZ
1.Who made the statue of Athena?
a. Pericles
b. Phidias
c. The Athenians
2.Where would the statue be situated?
a. In Pericles’ house
b. In the Acropolis
c. Outside the Acropolis
3.The statue was
a. sitting on a throne
b. sitting on a sofa
c. standing up
4.Athena was wearing a tunic with
a. a medusa
b. a centaur
c. a warrior

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