Athena: From the Parthenon to Melbourne

Free event – registration required.

A colossal statue of the goddess Athena once stood inside the Parthenon in Athens. Constructed of gold and ivory and over 10 metres tall, this statue is estimated to have cost more than the Parthenon itself. Although the statue is long gone, we still know much about it. The statue was famous in antiquity and many copies were made, including one now on display at the Hellenic Museum.

The original statue and its rich decoration tell us much about the character of Athena. She was a fascinating goddess, associated with both warfare and weaving, a female elevated to the highest position in a patriarchal society. The statue, along with the Parthenon, also tell us much about the contentious politics of Athens in the fifth century BC.

Join us in person or online to explore the nature of Athena, her statue in the Parthenon, the replica in Melbourne, and what these can tell us about ancient Greek myth, religion and history.

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This free public talk will kick off the Hellenic Museum Summer School 2023. From 9–13 January 2023, the Summer School will offer a series of informative, relaxed and entertaining short courses exploring the ancient Greek and Roman world. This year, we're offering courses on:

• Ancient Cyprus: the Island at the Crossroads of the Mediterranean
• Aristotle’s Human Flourishing Project
• Ancient Greek Religion
• An Introduction to Classical Mythology

Each subject consists of five sessions, delivered across five days. For more details or to enrol, visit the Hellenic Museum Summer School page. Anyone is welcome!