Ultimately, this Athena is certainly more frightening than the idiocy to which the Medusa Gorgon is reduced by comparison. What is more dreadful, the monster or the goddess? Klimt seems to deliberately frame both faces with the same coppery hair to draw the comparison in the viewers’ eyes: the monster is only semi-divine whereas Athena’s power is fully divine. This is not a goddess to oppose in mind or in weapon, as Klimt’s Pallas Athene is the epitome of apotropaism: not just a mask to ward away evil but the real thing. Thereby any would-be besieger - or friend or even worshipper - of all that is Athens by her strength of wisdom and arms should be completely intimidated. Klimt has made her eyes alone tell one how sensible it is to lay down any weapons of futile resistance. These eyes bore right through mortals.
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