Terracotta miniature Panathenaic amphora 400 BC

This is a terracotta miniature Panathenaic amphora, likely created by the Bulas Group, that stands just over three inches tall. These vessels were typically commissioned as prizes for the Panathenaic Games, an athletic and religious festival held in ancient Athens. The Games promoted the cultural and political identity of Athens and celebrated its patron goddess, Athena. The miniature version suggests this piece may have been a souvenir. What might the image of the athlete mean in the context of gender and class? Athletic competitions were exclusively male events, reinforcing the patriarchal structure of Athenian society. The idealized male form celebrated physical prowess and citizenship, while excluding women and enslaved people from full participation. It's a reminder that notions of beauty, ability, and belonging are culturally constructed.