A Roman statue of the Greek goddess Athena reemerged in Chicago after almost three centuries after it was acquired from a private collection.
The statue from the early 1st century CE has been acquired by Halsted A&A Foundation and will be displayed in the Tadao Ando-designed atrium of Wrightwood 659 in Chicago, debuting on Saturday, January 25.
“This acquisition underscores Halsted A&A Foundation’s commitment to the advancement of education, research, and the arts in Chicago. By displaying the sculpture at Wrightwood 659, the foundation invites the public to see a work which has been largely out of general public view for nearly three centuries,” said Karen Manchester, Curator, Halsted A&A Foundation.
“Now, scholars, students, and visitors will be able to study the statue of Athena closely and interpret it from many perspectives, including those of art history, restoration practices, and gender studies,” she added.
The Athena statue was purchased in England
Until Halsted A&A purchased the statue in 2023, the sculpture had been in the same British family for nearly 260 years. Landowner and politician William Weddell acquired the work in Rome in the mid-1700s for Newby Hall, his estate in North Yorkshire.
There, the goddess stood in a niche in a pink-hued circular gallery which was specially designed in the Neo-classical style by the noted architect Robert Adam.
Since its acquisition, a team of conservation specialists has studied the statue to determine its condition and the safest way to display it.
The Athena is posed extending her hand, as if proffering a small owl, a symbol of her divine wisdom, to the viewer. She wears a lightweight sleeveless tunic that falls to the ground, and a sash-like aegis bearing a gorgon’s head is draped diagonally across her chest.
A helmet sits on her head over her centrally-parted hairstyle of finely incised locks which are separated by deep channels. A cloak of heavier fabric encircles her body, a roll of its deeply cut folds crosses her midsection, and a loose corner falls to her left knee.
“The head of Athena is from one sculpture, carved during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (31 BC-14 CE), and the body from another, carved during the time of Emperor Claudius (41-54 CE). Like many sculptures sold in Rome in 18th-century Italy, the figure is composed of ancient and modern fragments,” said Manchester.
“The practice of piecing together sculptures was not invariably an attempt to deceive customers. Rather, many buyers preferred complete pieces, even if composed of unrelated parts. Further, when restorers were unable to locate suitable ancient fragments, sculptors carved new ones. The largest restored parts of this figure are its proper left arm and a section which extends from the jawline to the chest,” she added.
Who was the goddess Athena
Athena was one of the most prominent and revered deities in ancient Greek mythology. She was the goddess of wisdom, warfare, strategy, crafts and justice, and she played a central role in many myths and legends.
She was the protector of the city of Athens, which was named in her honor after she gifted the olive tree, symbolizing peace and prosperity, to its people.
Athena frequently aided Greek heroes, including Odysseus, Perseus and Heracles, offering them guidance, protection, and tools.
Related: Monumental Statue of Athena Parthenos Once Graced Acropolis
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