Ricerc@Sapienza

Located at the center of the University City of Sapienza, framed by the prospective axis of the propylaea, the Athena of Arturo Martini represents the focus of the vast building complex. Martini had a reference model, namely an Athena promachos, allegedly inspired by the bronze statue attributed to Phidia. However, compared to the initial sketches of the architect Marcello Piacentini, responsible for the architectural and decorative design of Sapienza, the gure is transformed into a complete- ly di erent image, with the arms raised and open. How did he arrive at this sculpture, heretical when compared to the classical tradition sketched by Piacentini? On the one hand the upward momentum is a motif that at the time occupied the creativity of Martini, on the other the sculptor opted for the iconography of the goddess who, invisible but rm, stands next to the Greek warriors and, metaphorically transplanted to the the center of the Studium Urbis, marched alongside the student-soldiers engaged in the conquest of Ethiopia.