Parthenon Symposium: Goddess in Progress: The Making of Nashville's Athena

Parthenon Symposium: Archaeological Discoveries in Nashville

Join us for a free in-person talk on Monday, February 9, at 6 PM at the Parthenon. This in-person Symposium is free and open to the public, RSVP required. It will take place in the Naos on Level 2.

Join artist Alan LeQuire as he looks back on the creation of Nashville’s Athena Parthenos statue. RSVP for FREE Museum admission for the event.

This lecture is sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)- Nashville Society through an AIA Local Lecture grant, the Alan Boegehold Lectures in Athenian Archaeology and Letters.

About the topic:

In 1982, at the start of his career, Alan won the commission to reconstruct the Athena Parthenos statue inside Nashville’s full-scale replica of the Parthenon. He undertook the recreation of a famous ancient sculpture known from partial descriptions and later, small-scale versions. This project was completed in 1990, after 8 years of intensive research, consultation with leading archeologists, engineering problem-solving, modeling, and casting—with further gilding and painting completed in 2002. It represents a lasting achievement in experimental archaeology.

Hear directly from Alan as he reflects on the process and project 35 years later. This talk is held in conjunction with the Parthenon’s ongoing exhibit “Goddess in Progress,” which documents with vivid large-scale photographs Alan’s journey in creating the statue.

About the artist:

In addition to the Athena Parthenos, Alan Le Quire is a Nashville sculptor best known for his historical and figurative sculptures. LeQuire began sculpting at age 11, and studied with Nashville sculptor Puryear Mims, before receiving his BFA from Vanderbilt University. He spent one year in Italy apprenticing with the American sculptor Milton Hebald, and completed an MFA at University of North Carolina, Greensboro, continuing to study figurative sculpture with Peter Agostini. LeQuire cites the self-taught Nashville sculptor William Edmondson as among his early inspirations.

LeQuire has undertaken many additional commissions, including individual portraits and larger work in public spaces. Among many other works, he is known for the colossal Musica composition on Nashville’s music row, the bronze doors of Nashville’s Main Library downtown, and the monument to the suffragettes in Centennial Park. He recently exhibited “Monumental Figures” an exhibit of specially commissioned works for the Parthenon.

Symposium sponsors:

Archaeological Institute of America- Nashville Society, Alan Boegehold Lectures in Athenian Archaeology and Letters.

Alan Boegehold (1927-2015) was a Professor of Classics at Brown from 1960-2001 and spent half a century involved with the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, including 23 years in various officer roles of the ASCSA Managing Committee. Long-time friend of the Archaeological Institute of America, Mr. James Ottaway, Jr., Chairman of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., wished to pay tribute to Dr. Boegehold with this named lecture. Annual Alan Boegehold Lectures focus on Athenian Archaeology and Letters, reflecting the lifelong interests of both the donor and the honoree.

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