Puteal with a scene of Athena's birth

myminifactory

A puteal is a construction built around the top of a well. This circular puteal is decorated with a scene depicting the birth of Athena. The subject is most famously used in the east pediment of the Parthenon. As it was an unusual one in Greek and Roman art it is possible to draw a line of influence between the Parthenon sculptures and the reliefs on this well-head. The arrangement of figures here, including three Fates, striding Hephaistos, Zeus on his throne, Nike, and the newly born Athena, may hint at the appearance of the lost central part of the Parthenon’s east pediment. However it is now thought that this puteal is derived from fourth century BCEsources, long after the Parthenon; and that Athena not Zeus may have been the central figure, and that Zeus faced not to the side but outwards.