Doorway to Athena

Following on from the theme of Roger Scruton's "Why Beauty Matters", Athena is the protectress of civilized life, of artesian activities, and of agriculture and was the favorite daughter of Zeus; the first of the three virgin Goddesses, also known as Maiden, Parthenos, and from this name was taken the name to the most important Temple dedicated to her, the Parthenon.

In poetry she is the incarnation of Wisdom, Reason and Purity. Athens is her city; the olive tree, created by her, is her tree; the owl, is the birth consecrated to her.

So I have created this sculpture to reflect Athena's beauty and powers by using the mystical and ethereal material of crystal.

Athena's veneration as the patron of Athens seems to have existed from the earliest times, and was so persistent that archaic myths about her were recast to adapt to cultural changes. In her role as a protector of the city of Athens many people throughout the Greek world worshiped Athena as Athena Polias.

The sculpture "Doorway to Athena" depicts Athena engraved within a doorway looking towards the sunlight cast through a doorway engraved on the opposite side of the crystal piece. When the sculpture is viewed from the other side the figure of Athena refracts creating an alchemy of her own image seen through many doorways symbolic of her many qualities as Goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, divine intelligence, architecture, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.

The "Doorway to Athena" sculpture will be exhibited in Johansfors, Sweden, from April 28 - July 28, 2012, as part of a special exhibition showcasing glass engraved works by members of the British Guild of Glass Engravers and Swedish glass engravers.

For more information:
http://johansforsgallery.com/index.html
http://www.gge.org.uk/