Marble Fragment of a Votive Relief with Athena in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, June 2010

Marble fragment of a votive relief with Athena
Greek, Attic, ca. 405-390 BC

Accession Number: 1989.281.59

Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, wears an Attic helmet, a belted peplos, and over her chest the aegis, a protective goatskin given to her by her father Zeus. The remainder of this relief, which is preserved in Athens shows Athena standing before an altar in her own sanctuary. The relief was probably dedicated to her to fulfill a vow made by the donor in return for Athena's assurance of success in some venture. Such exchange of favors were essential to the relationship between the ancient Greeks and their gods.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.