Statue of Athene

Ancient Rome, 2nd century

Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, the favourite daughter of Zeus, was one of the most venerated deities in Ancient Greece. In the late 5th century BC sculptors began to produce statues of Athena in the style of Early or High Classical art, employing their own stylistic devices in different regions of Hellas. In the Peloponnesus, statues of the goddess were distinguished by the simplicity of forms, accentuation of horizontals and emphasis on the strength of the broad-shouldered well-developed physique. The spirit of the Peloponnesian school in the Severe Style period (the second quarter - mid-5th century BC) inspired the creation of the statue that served as an original of the Roman copy in the Hermitage collection known as Campana Athena (according to the place of its residence in the Marquis Campana collection in Rome). The goddess stands with her shoulders square and her right leg way out to the side. Her powerful body is very well proportioned. The predominance of horizontals in the arrangement of the drapery emphasizes the static character of the figure. This work was created in the time of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD) and is characterized by a frontal composition, simple contours, a frozen pose and monumental forms.


Statue of Athene





224,0 cm

Acquisition date:

Entered the Hermitage in 1862; originally in the Marquis Campana collection in Rome

Inventory Number:




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