Despinis Head

According to George Despinis, director of the museum, it was originally part of the statue of Artemis Brauronia carved by Praxiteles.

Using the original records mentioning it and a photograph, George Despinis established that is actually derived from the sanctuary of Athena Hygieia between the Brauroneion and the Propylaea.

[4] It has been damaged by the passage of time, but also by iconoclastic Christians who destroyed the left side of her hairdo, her nose, mouth, have been broken off and her eyes have been smashed.

It has been argued that the arrangement of the Brauronion, partially reconstructed from the archaeological remains, did not support the existence of a cult statue.

Moreover, the heavily damaged state of the head must be kept in mind, as well as the fact that it is difficult to imagine the impression that it would have had on a viewer in its original location, three metres above ground level.