"The chryselephantine statue of Athena:

According to mythology, the name of the city is connected with a rivalry between Poseidon and Athena for the guardianship of the city. Poseidon offered the Athenians a horse, while Athena, struck the rock of the Acropolis with her spear, and an olive tree sprouted. The Athenians preferred the olive tree, which symbolised peace and prosperity. The city was named after Athena. The 12-metre high statue stood in the Parthenon. The interior of the statue was made of wood, while the nude parts were made of ivory. The removable robe and the helmet were coated with gold plating. The statue, which represented the goddess Athena bearing arms, and on her right hand a 2-metre high ivory statue of victory, was lost in the early Byzantine era. Ancient sources, and the analytical descriptions of Pausanias (2nd century AD), testify to the existence of the statue. Archaeologists have derived information about the statue from copies. The most famous copy is the Varvakeios Athena."

GREEK NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION "ATHENS ATTICA"