The East Pediment of the Parthenon depicts the Olympian god Zeus and the birth of the goddess Athena. It can be perceived as an arrogant and self-confident decision on the Athenian’s part to picture civilians and soldiers with gods/goddesses. However, the illustration made by the sculpture shows the victories of the Athenians and support from the gods for their actions. The pediments serve as examples of how dedicated the Athenians were to honor their gods. It allows others to see how powerful Athens is and how they intend to dominate going further.
Palagia, Olga. “Introduction.” The Pediments of the Parthenon, Brill, 1993, pp. 7–10.
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