Alexander the Great

This head of a statue of Alexander the Great was created by Athenian sculptor Leochares sometime after 338 BC during the Classical Period. It is made of Penteli marble and is on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered in 1886 near the Erechtheion on the Acropolis. Alexander the Great was the King of Macedon, an Ancient Greek kingdom, and is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. He is defined by his deep-set eyes and rich curls, which would have been painted red given the traces of paint remaining. The curls on the back of his head are indented, suggesting he initially wore a wreath or band that has been destroyed or lost.

Artemis Brauronia 

This head of a statue of Artemis Brauronia was created by Athenian sculptor Praxiteles around 330 BCE during the Classical Period. It is made of Paros marble and is located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered in 1839 near the Sanctuary of Athena Hygeia. The head likely comes from a seated cult statue of Artemis Brauronia, the goddess of nature, childbirth, wildlife, and the hunt among other titles. Artemis was an important figure for women, and she was often worshipped by young girls preparing for adulthood as a woman and by women preparing for childbirth. The damage to her face was likely caused by Christians of the time attempting to destroy ancient idols. Her hairstyle was common amongst children, which is fitting as Artemis was a protector of young children.

Ruler

This bust of a ruler was created near the end of the 2nd century AD by an unknown sculptor during the Roman Period. It is made of marble and is located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered in the Theater of Dionysus in 1870 or 1876. The man is portrayed in an idealized manner, with smooth skin and rich hair. There are two acanthus leaves on his neck, suggesting that he died by the time this bust was made, as the flower symbolizes eternity and rebirth. It has been theorized that this was Sauromates II, Rhoemetalkes, Herodes Atticus, or Emperor Gallienus.

Priest

This head of a statue of a priest was created in the mid-2nd century AD by an unknown sculptor during the Roman Period.  It is made of Penteli marble and is located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered in 1878 at the Theater of Dionysus. The head has been identified as that of a priest, given that he wears a double diadem on his head, which is a crown or headband worn as a badge of power or to hold the hair in place. Priests would decorate the diadem with other pieces for ceremonies or festivals.

Emperess Agrippina the Younger

This head of a statue of Emperess Agrippina the Younger was created between 41 AD and 54 AD by an unknown sculptor during the Roman Period. It is made of marble and is located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered on the west slope of the Acropolis. Emperess Agrippina the Younger was born in 16 AD and was the mother of Emperor Nero as well as the great-granddaughter of Emperor Augustus. According to Roman historian Tacitus, Nero and Agrippina the Younger were in conflict with one another over Nero’s affair with Poppaea Sabina, who later became his second wife. At the time, Poppaea was married to either Rufrius Crispinus or Otho, and Nero was married to Claudia Octavia. Agrippina allegedly opposed the affair with Poppaea because of her affection for Octavia. According to Roman historian Suetonius, in 59 AD, Nero ordered Anicetus to arrange a shipwreck. Agrippina survived the wreck and was executed by Anicetus when she swam ashore. Her death was originally reported as a suicide, but historians of the time revealed the truth.

Emperess Agrippina is defined by her large, round eyes, thin eyebrows, and curly hair pulled into a low bun. It is believed that this statue would have been placed in the Odeion of Agrippa, a two-story building in Agora used for musical performances.

Emperess Fulvia Plautilla

This head of a statue of Emperess Fulvia Plautilla was created at the beginning of the 3rd century AD by an unknown sculptor during the Roman Period. It is made of Penteli marble and is located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered in 1876 near Serpentzes, which was part of the medieval fortification walls of the Acropolis. It spanned from the Theater of Dionysus to the Odeion of Herodes Atticus. Fulvia Plautilla was born around 188 AD and wed to Emperor Caracalla in 202 AD at age fourteen. Their marriage was unhappy and rooted in politics. In 205 AD, Plautilla’s father was executed for treason because he plotted to overthrow Caracalla’s family after Caracalla threatened to kill him and Plautilla. After her father’s death, Plautilla and her brother were exiled to Sicily where they were strangled by order of Caracalla in 212 AD.

Emperess Fulvia Plautilla is defined by her oval face, full lips, and almond-shaped eyes. A band tied at the back of her neck encircles her head to indicate her high social position.

Lioness and Calf

Lioness and calf was created around 570 BC by a workshop in Attica during the Archaic Period. It is made of limestone and is located in the Archaic Acropolis Gallery of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered in fragments in 1888 on the east and southeast sides of the Parthenon and likely decorated the east pediment of the Hekatompedon, a temple that was forerunner of the Parthenon.

This sculpture depicts a lioness devouring a calf, which was a common image used to decorate early archaic temples originating in Near Eastern art. Uniquely, the lioness has the breasts of a female and the mane of a male.

Magic Sphere

This magic sphere was created between the 2nd century AD and the 3rd century AD by an unknown sculptor during the Roman Period. It is made of marble and is located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was discovered in 1866 in the Theater of Dionysus. The sphere is deemed a magical object used in the worship of Helios, god of the Sun. Given its discovery in the Theater of Dionysus, historians believe it secured the victory of the sphere’s owner.

On one side of the sphere, Helios is portrayed as Ruler of the Universe, sitting on a throne and holding a whip and three blazing torches. At his feet sit two dogs which may symbolize Sirius and Prokyon, the dog stars. Inscribed on the sphere is ΑΙΘΗΡ (ether), which refers to space and is the first of the five elements of nature: ether, earth, water, fire, and air.

Parthenon South Metope 1

This fragment from south metope 1 of the Parthenon was created between 445 BC and 440 BC by the workshop of Athenian sculptor Pheidias during the Classical Period. It is made of Penteli marble and is located in the Parthenon Gallery of the Acropolis Museum. This is one of the thirty-two metopes on the south side of the Parthenon, all of which portray images from the Centauromachy, a battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs. According to Greek mythology, the Centauromachy began during the wedding of King Peirithoos when the Centaurs became drunk and attempted to seize the Lapith women.

In this metope, a Centaur is depicted seizing a Lapith by the neck in a headlock while preparing to strike him with a tree branch. However, the Lapith manages to plunge his spear into the Centaur’s stomach and escape. Ultimately, the Lapiths emerge victorious.

Parthenon East Pediment

The east pediment of the Parthenon depicts the birth of the goddess Athena. According to Greek mythology, Zeus experiences a severe headache and seeks aid from the god of forge and fire, Ephesus. Ephesus strikes Zeus in the head with a forging hammer, and his head splits open. Athena emerges from Zeus’s head, fully grown and in full armor.

Parthenon West Pediment

The west pediment of the Parthenon depicts the contest between Athena and Poseidon to decide who will win control over Athens. Athena strikes the ground with her spear, and an olive tree is produced. Poseidon, god of the seas, strikes his trident on the ground and produces a saltwater spring. Athenians chose Athena after deciding that olive oil is more useful than a saltwater spring.

Kekrops and Pandrosos

This statue of Kekrops and Pandrosos was created between 437 BC and 432 BC by the workshop of Athenian sculptor Pheidias during the Classical Period. It is made of Penteli marble and is located in the Parthenon Gallery of the Acropolis Museum. It is part of the west pediment of the Parthenon, portraying the contest between Athena and Poseidon. When discovered, these statues remained in place on the pediment but were removed in 1977 to protect them from inclement weather and air pollution. Kekrops was a mythical king of Athens and a significant archetypal figure for Athenians. He was born from the Earth and has the lower body of a snake. It is said that Kekrops invented marriage, reading, writing, and ceremonial burial. Historians also suggest he was the judge who decided the outcome of the dispute between Athena and Poseidon, although sources are conflicted. Pandrosos was one of Kekrop’s three daughters. According to Greek mythology, baby Erechtheus, born from the soil after an incident between Athena and the god Hephaestus, was placed in a chest. The chest was entrusted to Pandrosos and her two sisters, and Athena told them never to open it. Pandrosos obeys Athena, but her sisters Herse and Aglauros open the chest and see the baby as a snake. Out of fear, they leaped off the rock of the Acropolis. Pandrosos subsequently became the nurturer of Erechtheus, and she received a sanctuary next to the temple of Athena Polias, which the Erechtheion later replaced.

The statues are turned towards the dispute between Athena and Poseidon. Kekrop raises his right hand, which may have held a scepter. Pandrosos wraps her right arm around her father’s shoulders. Between the two is a sculpted snake, a symbol of Kekrop’s origin.

Dione and Aphrodite 

This replica of a sculpture of Dione and Aphrodite was created in the 20th century and is made of plaster. It is located in the Parthenon Gallery of the Acropolis Museum. The original sculptures are located in the British Museum in London. The two women are believed to represent Dione, goddess of the Oracle of Dodona, and her daughter Aphrodite, goddess of love. However, some scholars believe the figures represent Gaia (Earth) and Thalassa (Sea).

Dione is depicted on the left, sitting on a rock with her back turned towards the birth of Athena. She embraces Athena with her right arm, who is laying on the same rock against Dione’s lap.

Erechtheion Karyatid

This Karyatid sculpture was created between 420 BC and 415 BC by a group of artists and Alcamenes, the pupil of Pheidias, during the Classical Period. It is made of Penteli marble and is located on the first floor of the Acropolis Museum. It was one of the six Karyatids that supported the porch of the Erechtheion rather than columns. Since the Archaic period, it was common in Greek architecture for columns to be replaced with female statues called Korai or Karyatids. It is believed that Karyatids were part of a monument over the grave of Kekrops, where they poured offerings to him from their hands. Five of the six Karyatids are in the Acropolis Museum, and one is in the British Museum. They were removed from the Erechtheion in 1979 to protect them from air pollution and were replaced with copies.