Athena

 A sculpture of Athena holding a spear and the goddess of victory Nike, Vienna, Austria

Tai Jing

In Greek religion and myths, Athena is the Goddess of war, justice, wisdom, and the protector of cities and civilizations. She was born from Zeus’s head after Zeus ate Metis, Athena’s mother, to prevent his destined son from overthrowing him. However, Athena eventually jumps out of Zeus’s head, fully grown and armored, displaying her incredible intelligence and prowess, and becomes the representation of order and strategy. Athens in Greece, although we don’t know if its name comes from Athena or the other way around, had extensive worship of Athena and built the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens. This temple is dedicated to Athena and to celebrate the victory over Persian invaders during the Greco-Persian Wars (La Fond). People believed the observation and worship of Athena and her statues can provide them with wisdom (La Posta) and victory. By placing a statue of Athena in front of the Parliament building, the Austrian government shows its emphasis on justice, law, and civilization.

The Pallas Athena Fountain is a statue on top of a water fountain in Vienna, Austria, in front of the Austrian Parliament building on Ringstraße boulevard. Initially, the statue was planned to be an allegorical depiction of Austria. But this idea was turned down for its exclusivity towards the multi-ethnic monarchy and instead the more neutral Pallas Athena was chosen to be the main subject of the statue (Loquis). The Pallas Athena Fountain consists of three levels: on the top is Athena standing on a pillar, wearing golden armor, and holding a spear and the Nike the Goddess of Victory; in the middle are two statues of women sitting next to the bottom of the pillar, with one holding a book, representing the legislative power, and the other holding a sword, representing the executive power; at the bottom are the personifications of the four most important rivers to the Austro-Hungarian Empire: Danube, Inn, Elbe, and Moldau, with some statues of Cupids playing lying around (van der Krogt).

This statue fountain conveys the sense of superiority of order and civilization in the country with Athena’s towering statue being the largest and the highest, the most detailed, and it is the only part of the whole structure that is decorated with golden ornaments. From a more religious perspective, it also comes with a connotation of how the government has righteous power given by Athena to rule the country and maintain civil order. On the flip side, it could also be interpreted as a reminder for parliament members and government officials who work inside the building to consider the best interests of the people and society instead of their own gains.

Works Cited

La Fond, Marie. “Destination Athens: Athena and Her City.” Lesson 3 - At the Crossroads: Myth and Ritual. Greek and Roman Myth. University of Washington, 16 Feb. 2023.

La Posta, Liz. “Prayer to Athena.” Hellenion, 2007, https://www.hellenion.org/athena/prayer-to-athena/.

“Pallas Athena Fountain, Vienna.” Pallas Athena Fountain, Vienna Monuments, Lasa Marmo, https://www.lasamarmo.it/en/works/monuments/pallas-athena-fountain-vienna-2.html.

“Pallas Athene Fountain (Vienna), Vienna Podcast.” Loquis, 8 Nov. 2021, https://www.loquis.com/en/loquis/2483121/Pallas+Athene+Fountain+Vienna.

van der Krogt, René, and Peter van der Krogt. Wien - Pallas-Athene-Brunnen, 2012, https://statues.vanderkrogt.net/object.php?record=atwi084.