Upper part of dedicatory relief mended of four fragments and partly reconstructed. It was found in 1867/8 near the Erechtheion.
It depicts a scene of crowning: one winged Nike crowns with her one hand, in which she held perhaps a metal wreath, a naked young man whereas with her other arm she hugs a young goddess by the shoulders. Since the relief is broken we do not know whether the women wear peplos or chiton.
The young man and the goddess have been variously interpreted. Some researchers identify them with Herakles and Athena, the protectress goddess of the hero, who led him to Mt Olympus when the other gods granted him immortality. Some others suggest that she is Hebe whom Herakles married after he was deified. It has also been thought that the young man is a victorious athlete crowned by the Nike in the presence of Athena.
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