The base of the statue

The base of the statue depicts the birth of Pandora (the smaller figure standing on the pedestal). Pandora usually appears in Greek myth to help explain why Greek men have it so tough: they were tricked into accepting women, who look good on the outside but are full of nasty tricks within. Athena, as many another god, helped in the creation of Pandora. But it is far from clear why the Athenians would have wanted to depict Pandora here.

Even Athena's sandals had artwork: a depiction of the battle between men and centaurs, yet another analogue for the conflict between Greeks and Persians.