Temple of Minerva Statue

The Statue In Perspective - When the Athenians built the Temple of Minerva, a statue to be placed at the very top was needed. A poor mechanic competed for the prize against a wealthy sculptor. The day came for raising the stone statue. The sculptor’s piece was unveiled amid much applause. But it was so small that, as it ascended to the top, its beauty disappeared, and when it reached the top, it seemed like a shapeless block. The statue of the mechanic was next unveiled. It seemed huge and uncouth, and resembled nothing divine or human. But as it ascended, its apparent deformity disappeared; it grew more beautiful at a distance, and finally when it reached the top, it seemed animated with divine beauty and life. The mechanic won the laurel and was borne off amid the shouts of the multitude