NEW PRODUCT: TBLeague - Athena, the Divine Strategist PL2023-209, Goddess Metis PL2023-210

Item Name: Athena, the Divine Strategist 1/6 Scale Action Figure
Item No: PL2023-209
Bar Code: 697 127233 187 8

Packing List:
1) 1 x head sculpt
2) 1 x TBLeague 1/6 scale female seamless body with metal skeleton and detachable feet
3) 1 x shoulder and chest plate
4) 1 x coiled snake-shaped ring for the left upper arm
5) 1 x coiled snake-shaped ring for the right upper arm
6) 1 x coiled snake-shaped bracelet for the left wrist
7 ) 1 x coiled snake-shaped bracelet for the right wrist
1 x helmet
9) 1 pair x sandals
10) 1 x stand
11) 1 x stand support rod
12) 1 x sword
13) 1 x spear
14) 1 x shield
15) 3 pairs x interchangeable hands
16) 1 x white dress
17) 1 x coiled snake-shaped ring for the left thigh
18) 1 piece x bikini panty

Packaging:
1 product/individual box
GW: 3.6 kg
Measurements: 28.3cmx24.3cmx38cm

2 products/master carton
GW: 7.7kg
Measurements: 51cmx30.5cmx40.5cm




















Item Name: Goddess Metis1/6 Scale Action Figure
Item No: PL2023-210
Bar Code: 697 127233 188 5

Packing List:
1) 1 x head sculpt
2) 1 x TBLeague 1/6 scale female seamless body with metal skeleton and detachable feet
3) 1 x shoulder and chest plate
4) 1 x coiled snake-shaped ring for the left upper arm
5) 1 x coiled snake-shaped ring for the right upper arm
6) 1 x coiled snake-shaped bracelet for the left wrist
7) ​​1 x coiled snake-shaped bracelet for the right wrist
1 x helmet
9) 1 pair x sandals
10) 1 x stand
11) 1 x stand support rod
12) 1 x sword
13) 1 x spear
14) 1 x shield
15) 3 pairs x interchangeable hands
16) 1 x white dress
17) 1 x coiled snake-shaped ring for the left thigh
18) 1 piece x bikini panty

Packaging:
1 product/individual box
GW: 3.1 kg
Measurements: 24.3cmx18.3cmx38cm

4 products/master carton
GW: 6.7kg
Measurements: 51cmx39cmx40. 5cm


















#TBLeague #Phicen #mythology #athena #metis #goddess

Metis was Zeus' first wife. He swallowed her to prevent her giving birth to a prophecied son, who would be stronger than him. She was however already pregnant with their first and only child Athena, who was the prophecied daughter who would be wiser than her mother (who was already known for her wisdom). Long story short: Athena defeated Zeus from within his head and broke free.

Medusa was a pure and loyal servant to Athena, who was raped by Poseidon in Athena's temple. Athena knew she couldn't go up against Poseidon, so she pretended to punish Medusa and turned her into the monster, that has snakes for hair (taking away her beauty to protect her from unwanted attention) and whose stare turned men into stone - perfect defence. The Medusa head is used as a symbol for women who have experienced and survived violence.


I really like both of these.  

I'm guessing this will be the new line replacing the Egyptian series and I'm okay with that.

So,... did they actually do some research this time? Or was the Medusa head on the shield a happy accident?

I initially thought the Athena figure was bland, but she has grown on me already, and I love the shield and that head is GORGEOUS!!!

Metis is beautiful and visually more interesting, but the head has the sappy Tariah look. In this case I don't mind too much though.

I like the first one, the Medusa shield is neat. Can anyone tell what body that is? Normally I can tell right away, but on these ones I'm not quite sure...

I like both of them a lot, even though they are very much fantasy. But at least they can be seen as reflective of a vintage romantic fantasy rather than the more stripper-warrior type of things we have seen so often (though that has given me references to mock). There is no major canon on Metis' appearance or character, and what we get is more fantasy Valkyrie than anything Greek style, even if gorgeous; there is plenty of artistic canon for Athena. The overall visual effect is still very good, although as usual they make unnecessary departures. Athena' helmet should cover the back of her skull, the gorgon head should be on her aegis protecting her neck, shoulders, and chest (which should be ampler -- the aegis, not the breasts!), and her dress is total fantasy, if beautiful. I do love her sandals and Metis' flat-soled boots; the latter, in particular, are the sort of things fantasy female warriors ought to have, and potential real ones would probably appreciate. Accuracy (to canon) apart, the only real downside are those unnecessary and unnecessarily strange bases, which would probably increase box size and weight and command greater shipping costs. Enough of that already.

I’d love to see the breastplate on the dress from the first outfit as I’m really not feeling the miniskirt or the boob-hugging snake…thing. I really like the headsculpt too - she actually has a bit of personality compared to the usual overstylised anime inspired ones.

Lynkhart wrote:I’d love to see the breastplate on the dress from the first outfit as I’m really not feeling the miniskirt or the boob-hugging snake…thing. I really like the headsculpt too - she actually has a bit of personality compared to the usual overstylised anime inspired ones.

I'm with you on some things. The curass of the 2nd set should have been with the first set, and honestly, I never pictured (in my own head) Athena being a blonde, but raven-haired and wore either deep blue or black, not white. The helmet of the first set is better than the Gondorian Guard-inspired helmet of the second set. Plus, the shield of the first set makes a lot more sense.

I really wanted to be blown away by these two, but find them a bit sadly underwhelming.... These are (should be) mighty Titans, so it would have been great to have had more oomph and presence. For me, the wafting white here doesn’t do it! Some of the aspects are impressive; I agree Gubernatorfan that Metis’s fantastic flat boots should be the absolute standard for warrior women!, and with Diana’s flag to Medusa on Athena’s shield, nice addition. While these are always going to be subject to a lot of imagination in how they are portrayed, given Métis was apparently an ‘Oceanid’ (daughter of Oceanus, the father of the sea and Poseidon’ uncle), I wish they had gone to town on that angle....

Good point about Metis, Tanzenwolfe, I had forgotten about her being an Oceanid.

nice sets  

love the weps and shields but not planning to get both, might do some parts hunting later  

Diana wrote:

So,... did they actually do some research this time? Or was the Medusa head on the shield a happy accident?

tbl might take reference from Smite's Athena where she brings shield with engraved medusa head

@Carousi: Ah. Of course they would.

They look like S47Bs to me, no? The head is sitting high, but I don't mind that actually. I love the Amazon Warrior despite this.

I agree it's a shame that they didn't make these two a little more distinct, especially in terms of colours. A more Greek look in terms of ethnicity would have been nice, too.
But I have a feeling we have more of these coming up (Artemis please?) and they will all be in the same colour scheme (until they decide to release black/silver versions? )
I wish they had used more realistic fabric. I suppose it looks more pristine/divine this way, but I would have preferred more realism.

I do like the bases actually.

So at this point I feel myself caving for both. Will have to check finances.

The Medusa shield is also a reference to the story of how a priestess of Athena was cursed by the goddess Athena for breaking her vow of celibacy, thus becoming the woman with snakes for hair who’s gaze would turn anyone to stone. Not sure if she was ever represented as a shield carried by Athena.

Stryker2012 wrote:The Medusa shield is also a reference to the story of how a priestess of Athena was cursed by the goddess Athena for breaking her vow of celibacy, thus becoming the woman with snakes for hair who’s gaze would turn anyone to stone. Not sure if she was ever represented as a shield carried by Athena.

The reference is correct (there are variations on the details of the story), but you're right, the gorgon's head did not end up on Athena's shield but on her aegis (that thing covering her shoulders and chest area). That said, painted Medusa heads do show up on representations of historical Greek shields.

Homeric shields were made of several layers of oxhide with a bronze face plate and central boss. Some of those facings and bosses were heavily decorated. Agamemnon's shield is described as having an embossed boss like the Cretan example, below, but in the shape of a gorgon [Iliad, 11.32-40].

This one was found on Crete and dates to the end of the Bronze Age. It is the type of shield that would have been used by the nobility in the Trojan War.

I don't know, some very good aspects in this, but the figures also kinda lack a soul (and an owl, for Athena). Like some perfect corporate streamlined goddesses.

They would really benefit from real character heads, something wise and mature. And maybe one more color to the palette, like red or crimson. And tone down the gold to some copper/bronze? And I guess the massive weighty pillar is a block of resin?

Athena's equipment looks good an fitting, but Metis' sword and shield seems kinda out of place for the setting. She has a slighlty Wagner Valykrie vibe.

But enough of the whining

Ancient bronze was closer to modern brass in color, Ovy, although yes this looks too pristine.
Shields with (bearded!) gorgon heads painted on:

Yep. Tin-bronze has a wonderful golden colour. Look at a cymbal on a drum kit. Many of them are still made from tin-bronze.

It should look pristine. They had plenty of slaves to keep their gear maintained and polished.

GubernatorFan wrote:

Stryker2012 wrote:The Medusa shield is also a reference to the story of how a priestess of Athena was cursed by the goddess Athena for breaking her vow of celibacy, thus becoming the woman with snakes for hair who’s gaze would turn anyone to stone. Not sure if she was ever represented as a shield carried by Athena.

The reference is correct (there are variations on the details of the story), but you're right, the gorgon's head did not end up on Athena's shield but on her aegis (that thing covering her shoulders and chest area). That said, painted Medusa heads do show up on representations of historical Greek shields.

Isn't the whole point of Athena's shield having the Medusa on it a callback to Perseus using Athena's super-polished shield as a mirror, to track and behead the Medusa without directly gazing on it?  In my understanding all of the real-world historical actual representations of the shields with Medusa faces are invocations of this myth -- associating the shield-bearer with the hero qualities of Perseus, while warding off generic evil, etc. in the form of a Medusa "reflection". There's probably a note also of how Perseus subsequently brandished the severed Medusa head as a weapon to frighten opponents.

Of course, it doesn't logically make sense for the actual Athena's actual shield to have Medusa carved on it, where the actual Athena shield only ever carried just a fleeting mirror reflection of the Medusa.  But maybe Athena herself wanted to celebrate that story, and maybe Perseus who had used Athena's shield to kill the Medusa, gifted Athena back with a splendid ceremonial carved version?

Moonbase Alpha Male wrote:

GubernatorFan wrote:

Stryker2012 wrote:The Medusa shield is also a reference to the story of how a priestess of Athena was cursed by the goddess Athena for breaking her vow of celibacy, thus becoming the woman with snakes for hair who’s gaze would turn anyone to stone. Not sure if she was ever represented as a shield carried by Athena.

The reference is correct (there are variations on the details of the story), but you're right, the gorgon's head did not end up on Athena's shield but on her aegis (that thing covering her shoulders and chest area). That said, painted Medusa heads do show up on representations of historical Greek shields.

Isn't the whole point of Athena's shield having the Medusa on it a callback to Perseus using Athena's super-polished shield as a mirror, to track and behead the Medusa without directly gazing on it?  In my understanding all of the real-world historical actual representations of the shields with Medusa faces are invocations of this myth -- associating the shield-bearer with the hero qualities of Perseus, while warding off generic evil, etc. in the form of a Medusa "reflection".  There's probably a note also of how Perseus subsequently brandished the severed Medusa head as a weapon to frighten opponents.

Of course, it doesn't logically make sense for the actual Athena's actual shield to have Medusa carved on it, where the actual Athena shield only ever carried just a fleeting mirror reflection of the Medusa.  But maybe Athena herself wanted to celebrate that story, and maybe Perseus who had used Athena's shield to kill the Medusa, gifted Athena back with a splendid ceremonial carved version?

I'm not saying the painted gorgon head shields are not references to the myth. But the myth very specifically has Athena placing the gorgon's head on her aegis, which, while functionally a shielding device, is not actually a conventional shield (its name actually is or seems to be derived from a goatskin). It is some sort of wrap/poncho covering Athena's shoulders and chest. See here, complete with the gorgon's head in the middle of it:

Shields with decorative relief detailing exist, like the very elaborate one belonging to (probably) Philip II of Macedon found in one of the Vergina royal tombs. But the most elaborate versions seem impractical for everyday military use, not only because of the damage they might sustain, but also because a smoother surface would be better at deflecting blows. Then again, status symbols are status symbols. Insofar as one can tell from the vase paintings (in my previous post), the gorgon faces on the shields might seem to have been painted on. Nevertheless, it is not impossible that some of the archaic shields had embossed or low relief detail of this kind. Philip's shield (I just can't seem to find a good medium-sized photo) --

These are already "in-stok"  at GianToy.

Since I ordered from KG to save a few bucks I'll probably have to wait a few more months for them. 

I've had them for a week, had a quick peek at Athena without taking her out and... just wasn't feeling it. BUT I remembered it was the same with the Shaman, which is now my favourite, so I gave them a chance.

And I love them.

They really start to shine once unboxed. Metis has a very small head, so she keeps the helmet on, which looks awesome. Athena however is utterly gorgeous, as expected from the promos. 
Both have the S47B giraffe-neck problem, but it is less noticeable with Athena.

Still gotta figure out how to best pose Metis' shield, without covering too much of her up.
And I already broke one of the dangly bits off her armour.
And I gotta reposition the belt.

The wired cloak is co much fun!!

Aaaanyway, here are some snap shots:

Thanks for the pics. They do look good together.

Not bad. For some reason I still wish they would have given her raven black hair.

They do suit being together, glad to hear you are enjoying them more in real life - except for those annoying bits that break or do not cooperate.... it seems like these figures were released pretty quick!

I've been going back and forth about getting one of these, but the pair look good together.

Your photos look good Diana!  It's nice to see the details on the finished product and I see what you mean about the wired skirt.  Thanks for posting!

They look great, Diana, glad you like them, and that you got them in the first place.