The colossal chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of stood inside the Parthenon. It was the creation of the sculptor Pheidias who was the person in charge of the transformation of Athens under Perikles.

Although the statue has not survived there are several ancient descriptions; one of the best is by the Roman travel-writer Pausanias.

During the Roman period small-scale marble copies of the statue were made. The one shown here is known as The Varvakeion Athena' (Athens, NM 129).

• Detail of 'The Varvakeion Athena'
• Roman copy of part of the shield (Piraeus)
• Accounts for the Athena Parthenos