This colossal winged figure from the East Pediment of the Parthenon in the British Museum is believed to be Artemis, one of the most widely venerated of the ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name, and indeed the goddess herself, was originally pre-Greek. She was the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls; she often was depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrows although they, along with her arms are long gone, victim I suppose of the many attacks, sieges and bombardments endured by these beautiful, resonant and evocative monuments during their near two and half thousand year history. Originally these monumental statues would have been painted with skin tones and vibrant colours as well as decorated with bronze appendages such as weapons, belts and so on. You can see the vast wing structure from here and the flowing elaborate carving of her drapery, once resplendent with gleaming paint, most probably brilliant whites and blues.

Size A5

Date: 2013

Meduim Pencil on cartridge paper

Artist © Jamie Tweddell