Who is this colossal goddess? Lacking the identifying attributes that she once held in her hands, she could be Demeter, Hera, or more likely Aphrodite. Given her larger than life-size scale, the statue probably served as a cult image in a temple. The statue's excellent state of preservation also indicates that it was indoors. Unfortunately, parts of the statue, such as the hair, the cloak that was pulled up over the goddess' head, one arm, and one foot, have been damaged or lost.
The statue is made from a combination of materials. The clothed part of the figure was carved from limestone, which still bears traces of red, blue, and pink paint. The parts of the body showing exposed flesh--her head, arms, and feet--were carved in an imported marble. This combined limestone and marble technique, called acrolithic sculpture, is unusual on mainland Greece; the technique is found more frequently in sculpture produced in the Greek colonies in South Italy and Sicily, where scholars think this sculpture was carved. Although the technique is a regional variation, the figure's swirling, clinging clothing closely follows the sculptural style current in Athens on the mainland of Greece in the late 400s B.C.
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