The statue, carved in white marble and missing its head, was found during the excavations conducted in the 1930’s at the Domus Augustana. The statue represents a female figure in a standing position, with the left arm lowered and held at the figure’s side and, most likely, the right arm held aloft, as can be observed by the position of the shoulder. The hint of the neck’s position suggests that the head was turned slightly to the right. The figure’s clothing — a sleeveless, knee-length chiton, gathered at the waist —, densely pleated with great attention to accuracy, reveals the forms of the subject’s body. Many hypotheses have been put forward in an effort to identify the subject. Some scholars believe that the statue portrays a young woman in the midst of a religious dance, while others argue that it might be a mythological figure: perhaps Artemis the huntress or Atalanta.