Roman terracotta antefix with Athena bust

Title: Antefix
Inventory Number: ΝΑ 1956 · ΝΑΠ 72
Artist: Attic workshop
Category: Architectural member
Period: Roman Period
Date: 1st cent. BC – 3rd cent. AD
Dimensions:
• Height: 0.285 m
• Length: 0.203 m
• Width: 0.06 m
Material: Clay
Location: Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes, Case 3, No. 165

Almost intact antefix found in 1956 on the Acropolis south slope. Its lowest part is decorated with the bust of goddess Athena framed by floral motifs that rise symmetrically from the center of the antefix and its upper part is adorned with a palmette. The whole surface is covered with light-coloured slip.

This terracotta antefix, a decorative architectural member used to cap the ends of roof tiles, dates from the extensive Roman period presence in Athens. Its design is executed in high relief and is almost perfectly preserved, offering a clear example of the decorative standards employed in monumental Roman buildings in the region. The function of the antefix was both practical, protecting the roof timber, and ornamental.

The central motif of the bust of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, is a fitting icon for an object found on the slopes of the Acropolis. She is prominently featured wearing her helm, framed by stylized scrolling floral elements and crowned by a large, radiating palmette. This fusion of Athenian local tradition (Athena) with Roman-era artistic styles highlights the cultural continuity and blend that characterized Roman Greece.

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