L'identificazione della 'dea' di Morgantina

The present essay deals with the identification of the so-called goddess from Morgantina, an original Greek female statue dating from the end of the 5th century BC which was illegally excavated at San Francesco Bisconti and has been recently returned to Sicily. An opening discussion on style and iconography is followed by a systematic review of the various identifications proposed for the statue in literature, as either Aphrodite, Demeter, Persephone or Hera. In the absence of attributes, which would have been fundamental in helping early observers to identify the figure, all these suggestions would appear viable, in view of the posture, the rendering of the body, and the costume. However, because of its provenance from a Sanctuary of Demeter, the first three identifications of the statue can be regarded as more plausible.