Bas reliefs flanking the entrance, sculpted by Alfred BoitteauThe relief to the left depicts Athena, the goddess of wisdom, with one of her symbols, the owl, signifying watchfulness and wisdom; the seated figure holds a statue of the warrior Athena with helmet and shield. To the right in this relief, her special gift, the olive tree is illustrating--giving shade, oil, and olives. The figure in the right hand relief suggests the virtues of the country's economy--trade, business, and agriculture.
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