metope

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Object Type: metope
Museum number: 1816,0610.16
Title: Series: The Parthenon Sculptures
Description: Marble metope from the Parthenon (South metope XXXII). 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, grabs a Lapith while preparing to strike. The Centaur has seized the Lapith by the back of his head with his left hand. His right arm was drawn back. The left foreleg is behind the Lapith, while the other foreleg was locked round his right thigh. The Lapith has drawn back his left arm to prepare a blow. The Centaur’s right arm, front leg and hind foreleg, the Lapith’s head, both arms and left leg from the knee below, and parts of the frame are missing.
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: 132 centimetres
Bibliographic references: Sculpture / Catalogue of Greek Sculpture in the British Museum (321); Smith 1892 / A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum (pp.143-144); Smith 1910 / The sculptures of the Parthenon (p.36, pl.24 (fig.2)); Brommer 1967 / Die Metopen des Parthenon (pp.128-129, pl.236-239); Berger 1986 / Der Parthenon in Basel; Dokumentation zu den Metopen (p.98, pl.110); Choremi-Spetsieri 2004 / The Sculptures of the Parthenon: Acropolis, British Museum, Louvre (p.93, fig.55)
Location: On display (G18)
Subjects: centaur; centauromachy; lapith
Associated objects: cast (CRM.1378); mould (CRM.1379)
Acquisition name: Purchased from: Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin
Acquisition date: 1816
Department: Greek and Roman
Registration number: 1816,0610.16
Additional IDs: Miscellaneous number: South Metope XXXII

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