The queen of France, Marie of Medicis, as Athena

Jean-Marc Nattier

The importance of Greek tradition and culture can also be seen in the monarchy's use of ancient symbols. At a time of religious conflicts, kings and queens often represented themselves in the form of ancient heroes or divinities. The monarchy sought to create a discourse and an imaginary world in which its representatives were seen as divinities capable of dealing with the troubles affecting the kingdom. Here we see the queen of France Marie of Medicis, Henri IV's wife, represented as the goddess Athena.