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Temple Pendant with the Head of Athena Parthenos
First half of the 4th century BC
Gold, enamel
This gold filigree temple pendant, part of a woman's head-dress,
was found in the Kul Oba burial mound, and is of unique artistic
and historical significance. In composition and style it belongs to
a type of article widespread amongst the Bosphoran nobility in the
4th century BC. The medallion, which has a delicate network of
minute interwoven chains attached to it, is decorated with
miniature discs, rosettes and pendant buds, and a relief
representation of three Sphinxes and the head of Athena clad in a
sumptuous helmet. According to Pausanias, just such a helmet
adorned the head of the Athena Parthenos, the great sculpture
made by the renowned Phidias for the Parthenon in Athens. The
colossal wooden statue, covered with gold and ivory, has been
lost, and only Roman marble copies have survived. This medallion
relief was undoubtedly inspired by the original, which the artist
must have seen himself, and is the earliest and most perfect
reproduction of the famous sculpture.
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