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metope
Object Type
metope
Museum number
1816,0610.14
Title
Series:
The Parthenon Sculptures
Description
Marble metope from the Parthenon (South metope XXX). This metope is from the eastern half of the south side of the temple. The South metopes in the British Museum show the battle between Centaurs and Lapiths at the marriage-feast of Peirithoos. A Centaur, on the left, tramples a crouching Lapith. The Lapith crouches with his left leg bent under him, his left arm rests on a stone. With his right arm he keeps the Centaur at a distance. The Centaur grasps the Lapith’s hair with his left arm, and presses his front left hoof on his right thigh, drawing back his right arm to deal a blow. A feline’s skin floats in the air at the back of the Centaur. A chlamys hangs right from the right arm of the Lapith, and passes behind his back. Missing are the Centaur’s right forearm, front leg and hind leg, and parts of the frame.
Producer name
Designed by:
Pheidias
Cultures/periods
Classical Greek
Production date
447BC-438BC
Production place
Made in:
Athens
Findspot
Excavated/Findspot:
Parthenon
Materials
marble
Dimensions
Thickness:
128 centimetres
Bibliographic references
Sculpture / Catalogue of Greek Sculpture in the British Museum
(319)
Smith 1892 / A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum
(pp.142-143)
Smith 1910 / The sculptures of the Parthenon
(p.36, pl.23 (fig.2))
Brommer 1967 / Die Metopen des Parthenon
(pp.124-125, pl.229-232)
Berger 1986 / Der Parthenon in Basel; Dokumentation zu den Metopen
(p.97, pl.108)
Choremi-Spetsieri 2004 / The Sculptures of the Parthenon: Acropolis, British Museum, Louvre
(p.89, fig.53)
Location
On display
(G18)
Subjects
centaur
centauromachy
lapith
Acquisition name
Purchased from:
Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin
Acquisition date
1816
Department
Greek and Roman
Registration number
1816,0610.14
Additional IDs
Miscellaneous number:
South Metope XXX