Athena was the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilisation, law and injustice, mathematics, strength, war strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill, according to Greek religious beliefs. She wears a helmet, which is typical of Athena’s portrayal in the Greek iconographical tradition, and alludes to her prowess in war and to the idea that military strategy was in her domain. Similarly suggestive of these qualities is her cuirass (breast plate).
Terracotta statuettes such as this beautiful example, are the most common sculpture types found in Greek art, including across Hellenistic sites. They vary from simple crude figures to finely rendered creations. Although present in a variety of different circumstances, a common usage was as a votive offering in funerary and sanctuary contexts. Terracotta figures were cheap to make and easily replicable, making them well suited for this purpose. All Greek sculptural production was originally polychrome. Few examples of statues and statuettes have come down to modern times in their original condition with their polychromy intact.
