Old Athena Temple. The Gigantomachy pediment

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Provision of image

Inventory number

Ακρ. 631 α, A-C

Artist

Antenor or Endoios (?)

Category

Architectural sculpture

Period

Archaic Period

Date

525-500 BC

Dimensions

Height: Athena 2.4 m
Height: fallen Giant 1 m
Height: Giant in the left corner 1 m
Height: Giant in the right corner 1.2 m
Reconstruction: 2.4 x 2.2 x 0.7 m

Material

Marble from Paros

Location

Archaic Acropolis Gallery

Description
Bibliography

Sculpted figures, that once adorned the west -most probably- pediment of the "Old Temple" of Athena Polias, and depicted the momentous Gigantomachy.

From the composition only fragments of four figures remain, which have been reassembled and restored, as well as, a small fragment from a fifth one. Athena's head was found in 1863 during excavations for the construction of the old Acropolis Museum, her left shoulder with the aegis, parts of a Giant and various other fragments were found in 1882 east of the Parthenon, while some other parts were discovered in 1888 east of the Erechtheion.

In the centre of the pediment we see Athena attacking the Giant Engelados whose only remains are the tip of a single foot. In her now-missing right hand, she would have also wielded a spear. Next to the Giant, a second, wounded one, struggles to stand up on his feet, leaning on a now-lost shield. Two more Giants are fallen in the corners, defeated by other gods, also no longer preserved.

The goddess wears a chiton and himation and over these her aegis decorated with painted scales and marble snakes around its edge. On her head she wears a helmet, once embellished with additional metal elements. Traces of red and green paint are still preserved on the giant, as well as on Athena's hair and clothing.

The quality of craftsmanship on this pediment has led to the assumption that it was the creation of one of the most important sculptors of the Archaic period, perhaps Antenor or Endoios.

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