Elena Rossi
The British Museum is home to a variety of sculptures and artefacts inspired by or dedicated to the goddess Athena. The Parthenon, built between 447 and 438 BC, was a temple dedicated to Athena, and the museum houses several sculptures and frieze panels from the temple. Additionally, a hand-crafted bust of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, is also available in the museum shop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | British Museum, London |
| Type of Art | Sculpture |
| Subject | Goddess Athena |
| Artist | Pheidias |
| Material | Gold and Ivory |
| Date | 438 BC |
| Collection | Parthenon Sculptures |
| Room | 19 |
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What You'll Learn
- The British Museum has a bust of Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare
- The Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum include a frieze of the Panathenaic festival, commemorating Athena's birthday
- The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, once featured a colossal gold and ivory statue of the goddess
- The Parthenon sculptures have inspired many artists, including sculptor Auguste Rodin
- The Parthenon was built between 447 and 438 BC as a temple to Athena
The British Museum has a bust of Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare
The British Museum in London is home to a plethora of sculptures and artefacts from ancient Greece, including a bust of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. The Parthenon sculptures, of which the bust is a part, have been a central attraction at the museum for over two centuries.
The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, was constructed between 447 and 438 BC in Athens. The temple was an embodiment of the city's power and wealth, featuring lavish use of white marble. Inside stood a colossal image of Athena Parthenos, crafted from gold and ivory by the renowned artist Pheidias.
The British Museum's collection of Parthenon sculptures includes 247 feet of the original frieze, 15 metopes, 17 pedimental figures, and various pieces of architecture. These sculptures were brought to Britain by Lord Elgin, who obtained permission to remove them from the Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis, including the Temple of Athena Nike.
Among the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum is the bust of Athena, a hand-crafted sculpture inspired by the goddess. The bust is cast in fine British plaster, adorned with symbols of Athena such as dolphins, a dove, roses, and grapes. The inscription on its base recognises Athena as the "Goddess of Courage, Wisdom and Strength".
Athena's unique birth adds to her allure—she sprang from the head of her father Zeus, fully grown, and ready for battle. As the patron of many renowned Greek heroes and the namesake of Athens, she holds a significant place in Greek mythology. The bust of Athena in the British Museum stands as a testament to her enduring legacy and the rich cultural heritage of ancient Greece.
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The Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum include a frieze of the Panathenaic festival, commemorating Athena's birthday
The Parthenon, built between 447 and 438 BC, was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Inside the temple stood a colossal image of Athena Parthenos, constructed of gold and ivory by Pheidias. The Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum include a frieze of the Panathenaic festival, commemorating Athena's birthday. The frieze forms part of the original 524 feet (around 160 metres) of the Parthenon's decorative sculptures. The British Museum's collection includes 247 feet (around 75 metres) of the original frieze, 15 of the 92 metopes, 17 figures from the two pediments, and various pieces of architecture from the building.
The Parthenon sculptures were first displayed in 1807 in Lord Elgin's temporary museum. In 1816, Parliament decided to acquire the collection for the British Museum, where they have been on public display since 1817. The sculptures were removed from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1805, along with sculptural and architectural elements from other buildings on the Acropolis, including the Temple of Athena Nike.
The Parthenon sculptures are considered iconic works of art and have inspired many artists and writers, including John Keats and Henry Moore. The French sculptor Auguste Rodin was particularly influenced by the Parthenon sculptures, seeing in Pheidias a kindred spirit and artistic mentor.
The British Museum also has a bust of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, in its collection. This hand-crafted sculpture is cast in fine British plaster and features symbols of Athena, such as dolphins, a dove, roses, and grapes. The bust is inspired by the story of Athena's miraculous birth, where she emerged fully grown from the head of her father Zeus, ready for battle.
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The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena, once featured a colossal gold and ivory statue of the goddess
The Parthenon, constructed between 447 and 438 BC, was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was built on the Acropolis of Athens, the sacred heart of the city, and was the centrepiece of an ambitious building programme. The temple was designed to showcase the city's power and wealth at the height of its empire. The Parthenon was richly decorated with sculptures, designed by the famous artist Pheidias, which took until 432 BC to complete.
Inside the Parthenon stood a colossal statue of Athena Parthenos, constructed of gold and ivory by Pheidias. The statue was probably dedicated in 438 BC, the same year the temple was completed. The pediments and metopes of the Parthenon illustrate episodes from Greek myth, and include the famous head of a horse of Selene (the moon goddess) and the river god Ilissos.
The Parthenon has had a complex history and has been a temple, a church, and a mosque. It is now an archaeological site. The building has sustained significant damage over the centuries, particularly as a result of an explosion while it was being used as an ammunition store in 1687. This explosion left the Parthenon as a ruin, and around 50% of the original architectural decoration is now lost.
About half of the surviving sculptures from the Parthenon are currently housed in the British Museum, with the other half in Athens. The British Museum's collection includes 15 metopes, 17 pedimental figures, and 247 feet (around 75 metres) of the original frieze. The sculptures were brought to Britain by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1805 and entered the collection of the British Museum by Act of Parliament in 1816. They have been on continuous display to the public since 1817, free of charge.
In addition to the Parthenon sculptures, the British Museum also has a bust of Athena, inspired by the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare. The bust is hand-crafted and cast in fine British plaster, with symbols of Athena such as dolphins, a dove, roses, and grapes.
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The Parthenon sculptures have inspired many artists, including sculptor Auguste Rodin
The Parthenon sculptures, which are now housed in the British Museum, have inspired many artists and writers for generations, including the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The Parthenon, built between 447 and 438 BC, was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. The sculptures were designed by the famous artist Pheidias, who was considered the most famous sculptor of antiquity. Pheidias also created a colossal gold and ivory statue of Athena Parthenos, which stood inside the Parthenon.
Rodin (1840-1917) was inspired by Pheidias, seeing him as a kindred spirit and artistic mentor. He was influenced by the Parthenon sculptures, as evidenced by his work, "Study of the Parthenon south frieze cavalcade", created before 1870. This piece is done in graphite, pen, and ink and is housed in the Musée Rodin. Rodin's admiration for ancient Greek and Roman sculptures is well-known, and he acquired thousands of ancient sculptural pieces throughout his life. He considered Pheidias, the sculptor of the Parthenon, as his idol from antiquity.
The Parthenon sculptures are considered iconic works of art and have played a central role in the story of art. They consist of a frieze depicting the procession of the Panathenaic festival, commemorating the birthday of the goddess Athena, metopes (sculpted relief panels) depicting the battle between Centaurs and Lapiths, and figures of gods and heroes from temple pediments. The British Museum currently houses 15 metopes, 17 pedimental figures, and 247 feet (75 meters) of the original frieze.
Rodin, often regarded as the first modern sculptor, was known for his sculptures of the human figure and his ability to depict extreme emotions. He drew inspiration from various artistic and literary sources, including Dante's Divine Comedy and Michelangelo's sculptures. Despite facing financial struggles in his 20s, Rodin achieved critical and financial success in his 40s, launching his career in Brussels with sculptures created alongside his partner, Joseph Van Rasbourgh.
In conclusion, the Parthenon sculptures, including the works of Pheidias, have had a profound influence on artists such as Rodin. Rodin's admiration for Pheidias and the Parthenon sculptures is evident in his work and collections, and the Parthenon sculptures continue to inspire artists today.
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The Parthenon was built between 447 and 438 BC as a temple to Athena
The Parthenon was built between 447 and 438 BC as a temple dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare. Inside the temple stood a colossal image of Athena Parthenos, constructed of gold and ivory by Pheidias. The Parthenon was built on the Acropolis of Athens and was the centrepiece of an ambitious building programme. The temple's large size and lavish use of white marble showcased the city's power and wealth at the height of its empire under the statesman Pericles.
The Parthenon has been a temple, a church, and a mosque, and is now an archaeological site. It sustained significant damage throughout its history, particularly from an explosion while it was used as an ammunition store in 1687, which left the Parthenon in ruins. Today, all surviving examples of Parthenon decoration are found in museums across the world, including the British Museum, the Louvre, and the Vatican Museums.
The British Museum houses 15 metopes, 17 pedimental figures, and 247 feet (75 metres) of the original frieze. The sculptures from the Parthenon were first displayed in Britain in 1807 in Lord Elgin's temporary museum. However, Elgin bankrupted himself transporting the sculptures, so Parliament decided to acquire the collection for the British Museum in 1816. The sculptures have been on display to the public in the British Museum free of charge since 1817.
In addition to sculptures from the Parthenon, the British Museum also has a bust of Athena, inspired by the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare. The bust is hand-crafted and cast by hand in fine British plaster. It features symbols of Athena, including dolphins, a dove, roses, a scallop shell, wine, and grapes. The inscription around the base reads, "Athena: Goddess of Courage, Wisdom and Strength".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is a hand-crafted sculpture of a bust of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, in the British Museum.
The British Museum houses sculptures and architectural elements from the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. However, based on the information on the British Museum's website, there does not appear to be a painting of Athena in the museum.
The bust of Athena is hand-crafted and cast in fine British plaster.
The symbols of Athena, including dolphins, a dove, roses, a scallop shell, wine, and grapes, are crafted onto the design of the bust.
