Statue of Athena with a snake

This sculpture consists of a draped female torso of the Roman period, modelled on a Greek statue type of the late 5th century BC, completed in the 17th century by Alessandro Algardi. The original sculpture may have depicted the goddess of health, Hygieia, daughter of Aesculapius, identified by her attribute, the snake. Algardi's 17th century restorationa was inspired by the Athena Giustiniani statue type as requested by his patron, Cardinal Ludovisi.