Taylor Athena

Taylor as Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy in Greek mythology.

In this version, I imagine her as a leader and protector—not punishing Medusa, but becoming her defense, her shield, her ally.

The symbolism, including the helmet, spear, owl*, shield with the Gorgon, and the serpent, combines the attributes of the goddess within classical mythology with Taylor’s artistic production. On the shield, the iconography that was once used against her on social media (the snake) as a sort of "weapon" is now her defense, her shield, incorporated into her own image.

*While the owl is a traditional symbol of Athena, here it is replaced by Hedwig from Harry Potter, since Taylor is a big fan. The cat is a personal detail (Olivia, her cat).

In Greek mythology, the head of Medusa on Athena’s shield, known as the gorgoneion, is the severed head of the Gorgon that Perseus gave to the goddess after killing her. In classical depictions, Athena's shield displays Medusa’s head as a symbol of protection and power, as even in death, her gaze continued to petrify her enemies. In recent times, her image has also been used as a symbol of struggle and survival in the face of harassment and abuse suffered by women. In this version, the Gorgon's head is alive, defiant, staring directly at the observer. The symbols repeated in a circular pattern around her are the logo of her latest album (TTPD, The Tortured Poets Department).

Details

• The quill and parchment reference her skill as a writer.

• The way she holds the quill matches the artist’s own grip.

• The dress is a combination of one she wore in an interview and the golden statue of Athena designed by Phidias (Greek sculptor, painter, and architect).

• The throne is a fusion of the golden throne from the Look What You Made Me Do music video and the throne of a statue of Emperor Constantine.

• The phrase at the top is from her song Mastermind and translates to: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail"—the mindset of a strategist, like Athena.

There are a few thing more, but I'll leave them as a mystery.

Yes, I’m a fan.