Athena Promachos

Description Many religions were syncretistic, meaning that as they grew and came into contact with other religions, they adopted new beliefs and modified their practices to reflect their changing environment. Both Greek and Roman religious beliefs were deeply influenced by the so-called mystery religions of the East, including the Egyptian cult of Isis, which revealed beliefs and practices to the initiated that remained unexplained, or mysterious, to the uninitiated. Most popular Roman cults had associations with these mystery religions and included the prospect of an afterlife. The statuette is recognized as Athena Promachos ("the Warrior") by her helmet and stance, her stiff left leg advanced. The details of her garments imitate the Korai (statues of maidens) of the late 6th century BC. Her raised right arm supported a spear.

Conservation

Examined in preparation for case retro-fit and re-installation.

Date	Description	Narrative
12/31/1969	Loan Consideration	examined for loan
12/31/1969	Examination	Examined
1/01/1944	Treatment	other
6/07/1957	Treatment	cleaned
12/01/1982	Treatment	cleaned; coated
12/08/1982	Examination	examined for loan
3/30/1983	Treatment	cleaned
3/30/1983	Treatment	varnish removed or reduced
4/18/1989	Treatment	cleaned; coated; loss compensation
3/01/2001	Treatment	other

Exhibitions

• Transformations in Hellenistic Art. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, South Hadley. 1983.

Provenance Wyndham Francis Cook Sale, 1908 [no. 24, pl. XXVIII]; Joseph Brummer, New York; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1925; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters, 1925