Shield of Athena Parthenos

What it is

This is a white marble relief fragment from the shield of the Athena Parthenos, the statue of Athena made for the Parthenon in Athens. The British Museum holds the piece. The fragment shows a large central face with snake-like hair, which is a supposed self-portrait of the sculptor Phidias, surrounded by carved warriors fighting.

Why it matters

The statue was made as part of the building program that Pericles promoted in Athens, so the shield connects the sculptor Phidias to the statesman who oversaw public building. Its carvings show battle scenes, which were common in Greek art and public monuments. The reputed portrait of Phidias reveals that artists could place their own likeness within a major public work.

Look closer

• What do the warriors and the fallen figure suggest about the message of the shield?
• Why might a sculptor put a portrait of himself on a work made for an entire city?
• What parts of the original statue are missing from this fragment, and how does that limit what we can know?