Sculptuur van de Moira door Phidias before 1878

This is a photograph by Stephen Thompson of a sculpture of the Moira by Phidias. It depicts sculptures from the pediment of the Parthenon in Athens. The Parthenon, built in the 5th century BC, served as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and as a symbol of Athenian power and cultural achievement. The sculptures, including these figures of the Moirae, or Fates, were integral to the temple's design, communicating narratives from Greek mythology and reinforcing the city's cultural identity. Constructed during the height of Athenian democracy, the Parthenon embodies the intersection of art, religion, and politics in ancient Greek society. This image, captured by Thompson, allows us to see the classical world through a 19th-century lens. To truly appreciate the artistry and historical context, one might delve into archaeological reports, ancient texts, and studies on Greek sculpture and architecture. The meaning of the artwork is reliant on its social and institutional context.