Museo Civico Archeologico - Pelagio Palagi - Head of Athena Lemnia

The head of Athena Lemnia, acquired by the municipality from Pelagio Palagi (1775-1860), is the best Roman copy of an original Greek bronze by Phidias, realized between 451 and 447 BC and unfortunately lost. The original statue was offered as a gift to the Acropolis by Athenian citizens about to establish a colony on the island of Lemnos. Purchased in 1829 by Palagi and originally thought to be a young man, the head was later identified as the goddess of wisdom in the late 19th century.