A estátua de Atenas na Palmeira de Eurymedon em Delfos. Arte, história e recepção de uma famosa oferta votiva

This paper intends to investigate the fortune of the Eurymedon palm tree and the gilded statue of Athena that surmounted it, dedicated by the Athenians in the sanctuary of Delphi after the battle at the Eurymedon. It will focus in particular on the descriptions of the statue in two imperial sources, Plutarch and Pausanias. The meanings and the values of the statue through time will be considered, encompassing historical, religious, philosophical and art historical aspects, as well as discussing the state of preservation of the monument. Moreover, the comparison between the literary sources will yield a better understanding of the history of their transmission and a clearer assessment of the impact of this new reading on our knowledge of the Athena statue.