The Parthenon in Athens is one of the most famous architectural marvels in the world. It used to house the massive gold and ivory statue, Athena Parthenos. The statue’s current whereabouts remains a mystery. If you’re interested in learning more, watch this episode of U.S. Money Reserve’s “Did You Know?”
Athena Parthenos: Did You Know? – Video Transcription
Narrator: (00:05)
The Athena Parthenos was an ancient sculpture located inside the Parthenon in Athens. The 37 foot 9 inch statue was a tribute to the Greek goddess, Athena. Sculptor, painter, and architect, Phidias, finished the construction of the statue in 432 BC. Phidias had also created the statue of Zeus at Olympia years earlier. These two pieces are his most famous and some of the most popular sculptures in history. The Athena Parthenos was a chryselephantine sculpture, meaning it was made with ivory and gold. Statues like this were greatly popular and are commonly associated with ancient Greece. Over 2,400 pounds of gold were used in the construction of the statue. The statue alone accounted for a large portion of the treasury of Athens. There are conflicting theories about what happened to the statue. Some believe it was destroyed. Others believe it to have been stolen, and few believe that the statues still exists today. Call the number on your screen if you'd like to learn more about gold's place in history and gold's place in your portfolio.
