A metope depicting Theseus and Athena on the Athenian Treasury, highlighting the connection between Theseus and the city.
Metope 5 of the Athenian Treasury, depicting Theseus and Athena. The Athenian Treasury was an early example of sculptural representations of Theseus. Constructed after the Persian invasion of 490, the symbol of Theseus was becoming more and more representative of Athens itself. The prominence of Theseus in Athenian culture would eventually supersede even Hercules, although they are given equal representation on the metopes of the Treasury. The metopes with Theseus highlight his connection to the city, and this scene of Theseus and Athena is the perfect example of this. The scene is unique due to its absence from the Temple of Hephaestus in the Athenian Agora, constructed a few decades later and featuring many of the same scenes. This indicates that its placement here was chiefly to broadcast the Athenian appropriation of Theseus as a national hero, something deemed unnecessary in Athens itself.
Creation date unknown. Photograph processed July 1978. Notes written on the slide or index: Athenian Treasury: Athena + Theseus (metope), Athenian Treasury.
