Made in the late 2nd century BCE or 2nd century CE, the Mattei Athena is believed to be a Roman copy of the 4th century BCE bronze statue, Piraeus Athena, created by Cephisodotus or Euphanor. Piraeus Athena was excavated outside of Piraeus, Greece in 1959. It still exists at Piraeus, Greece, near Athens.

Athena is wearing her helmet and sash decorated with snakes and the head of the gorgon Medusa. She’s posed contrapposto, most of her weight on her left side. Her face is calm, indicating the alternative name for this statue, Peaceable, and her body language exudes a relaxed and peaceful feeling. It’s emphasizing her ability to ensure peace through her ability to ensure military victory. The Roman copy in marble of Athena gives her a kinder image compared to her usual strong fearsome appearance. Her position, having one arm opened and the other leisurely resting on her hip, gives the feeling of her welcoming people to worship her. Rather than a warrior, Athena is simply a goddess who is approachable and waiting to be worshipped.

Why is it being encouraged to worship her? Why would people choose to worship Athena? As the daughter of Zeus, she’s gained many titles; the goddess of warfare, wisdom, courage, justice, strategy, and many more.

From birth Athena was already full of wisdom, ready for battle, and to serve where needed. Opposite of a goddess like Aphrodite, Athena was a virgin maiden who didn’t focus on lust or love but war and craftsmanship. She also became the patron goddess of Athens, Greece. Athena offered the town the olive tree. Cecrops, the king, accepted her gift and Athena became their goddess. The olive tree also became a symbol of Athenian economic prosperity. The people built a temple over the ground the gods left their gifts in Athens. On the pediment of the Parthenon in Athens you can see the two tales; the birth of Athena as well as the competition against Poseidon.

Athena is a goddess of war alongside with Ares though they represent two sides of it. Ares is about the brute of war, Athena takes on the strategic side of warfare. She offers the positive side of war while Ares shows the negative. Their ideals clash and was depicted in Homer’s Iliad. In each case she showed how intelligence and strategy overcame senseless brute and bloodthirst. Athena’s wisdom is not simply in philosophical terms but more specifically in her strength as a strategic thinker in both battle and diplomacy.

Not only was Athena valued for her wisdom, but real women were also valued for their wisdom or knowledge. One example is Helen of Troy in Homer’s Iliad. Helen was a spartan and as a spartan women she was educated. She even criticized her husband for his foolish behavior during the war. Other examples include Artemisia the First and Artemesia the Second. They were famous Greek leaders who were naval commanders.

The appeal of a female goddess who both wise and victorious in battle was so strong that it continued after polytheism was replaced by Christianity. A Byzantin icon of the Virgin Mary was kept in Constantinople and paraded around the walls of the city when under siege by enemies. Even after a change in religion and lifestyle, the basic principles of Athena still translate over to other women in life.