‘Parthenon Marbles: Goddess Iris’ circa 447-432

The Parthenon was built as a temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena and was the centrepiece of Athens; built entirely of white marble, the Parthenon was a display of the city’s wealth and power. This particular statue is of the messenger Goddess Iris, who was a herald for the chariot group of Poseidon. Her placement on the Parthenon would’ve shown her as winged, descending to Earth. She would’ve been on the West Pediment of the Parthenon.

The Parthenon Marbles are some of the most contested artefacts in modern history, currently housed in the British Museum; they are some of the most controversial in the museum’s 8 million-piece collection and have been on display since 1817.