Classical art Athena

restoration of polychrome decoration of athena statue aphaea temple @ aegina, c. 490 bc (from exposition bunte götter munich glyptothek)

in early, archaic portraits of athena in black-figure pottery, goddess retains of minoan-mycenaean character, such great bird wings, although not true of archaic sculpture such of aphaean athena, athena has subsumed earlier, invisibly numinous—aphaea—goddess cretan connections in mythos.

in classical depictions, athena portrayed standing upright, wearing full-length chiton. dressed in armor, , represented wearing corinthian helmet raised high atop forehead. shield bears @ centre aegis head of gorgon (gorgoneion) in center , snakes around edge. in standing posture depicted in phidias s famous lost gold , ivory statue of her, 36 m tall, athena parthenos in parthenon.

the mourning athena famous relief sculpture dating around 470-460 bc has been interpreted represent athena polias. athena polias represented in neo-attic relief held in virginia museum of fine arts, depicts holding owl in hand , wearing characteristic corinthian helmet while resting shield against nearby herma.

apart attributes, there seems relative consensus in late sculpture classical period, 5th century onward, athena looked like. noticeable in face perhaps full round strong, chin high nose has high bridge natural extension of forehead. eyes typically set. unsmiling lips full, mouth depicted narrow, wider nose. neck long.

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