The statue depicts the Athenian princess Procne about to strike her own son Itys dead as revenge against her husband Tereus.

It was discovered near the temple of Athena-Nike during the early nineteenth century, and it is now exhibited in the Acropolis Museum of Athens, in Greece.

Procne rescued her sister, and wanting to enact revenge on her husband, slew their little son Itys, and fed him to this father during dinner.

[5] The statue was made during the Classical Greek era, around 430 BC,[6][7] and was mentioned by the traveller Pausanias when he visited Attica in the second century AD:[8] Those who prefer artistic workmanship to mere antiquity may look at the following: [...] Procne too, who has already made up her mind about the boy, and Itys as well—a group dedicated by Alcamenes.The sculpture was dedicated by the sculptor Alcamenes, who is taken to have been its creator as well.

[6] The woman, Procne is clothed in a thin chiton which is tied with a girdle at her waist, and pinned on the shoulders, around which it is wound, while part of it falls back on the body forming beautiful folds over her breast.