Description:

Greek, Hellenistic Period, ca. 4th to 2nd century BCE. A terracotta head of Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, modeled with a serene visage and crowned by a Corinthian helmet, its crest sweeping back in high relief. The goddess' face is sensitively rendered with almond-shaped eyes, softly contoured cheeks, and pursed lips, lending an impression of quiet authority. The helmet, though worn with age, retains its characteristic high crest and protective form, marking the goddess in her martial aspect. Terracotta votive heads such as this were widely dedicated in sanctuaries or placed in domestic shrines, serving as tokens of devotion to Athena, who embodied both martial strategy and civic order in Greek thought. Comparable examples appear in collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Louvre, attesting to the widespread production of such devotional figures throughout the Greek world. Size: 1.3" L x 0.9" W x 1.8" H (3.3 cm x 2.3 cm x 4.6 cm)

Provenance: private Fort Collins, Colorado, USA collection via inheritance, acquired before 2000; ex-Harmer Rooke Numismatists, New York, New York, USA, December 3, 1980, lot 92

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#196243

  • Condition: Fragment of a larger piece. Weathering to surface as shown.

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September 4, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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