Sacred Athena

The contest for Athens

Contest between Athena and Poseidon, 1540–45. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 49.97.589.

Contest between Athena and Poseidon, 1540–45. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 49.97.589.

Caption note A Renaissance interpretation derived from a lost design associated with Fontainebleau. The Met discusses a horse as Poseidon’s gift in this version; do not treat the print as proof that every ancient account gives a horse rather than salt water.

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