This sculpture is a replica of an ancient work by Myron dated to 5th century BC.
It is set near the building that served as the National Congress Hall in 1851.
It depicts a life-sized Athena standing, wearing long robes and a helmet on top of her head...not covering her face. She looks to the left as her body shifts to the right. The arms are missing.
Wikipedia (
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"In Greek religion and mythology, Athena or Athene ... also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene ... is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. Minerva is the Roman goddess identified with Athena.
Athena is portrayed as a shrewd companion of heroes and is the patron goddess of heroic endeavour. She is the virgin patroness of Athens. The Athenians founded the Parthenon on the Acropolis of her namesake city, Athens (Athena Parthenos), in her honour.
Veneration of Athena was so persistent that archaic myths about her were recast to adapt to cultural changes. In her role as a protector of the city (polis), many people throughout the Greek world worshiped Athena as Athena Polias ... "Athena of the city"). The city of Athens and the goddess Athena essentially bear the same name (Athena the Goddess, Athenai the city) while it is not known which of the two words is derived from the other."
As for the planet, Wikipedia (
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881 Athene is a minor planet orbiting the Sun.
Discovered by Max Wolf
Discovery site Heidelberg
Discovery date July 22, 1917
Designations
Alternative names
1917 CL
Orbital characteristics
Epoch August 18, 2005 (JDCT 2453600.5)
Aphelion 3.152 AU
Perihelion 2.075 AU
Semi-major axis
2.614 AU
Eccentricity 0.206
Orbital period
4.225 a
Mean anomaly
300.861°
Inclination 14.181°
Longitude of ascending node
277.238°
Argument of perihelion
41.426°"