Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 018
Theseus and Antiope; Eretria West Pediment

Marble (Parian)
Pedimental Figure
H ca. 105 cm

From the Temple of Apollo Daphnephoros in Eretria. Found to the west of the temple in 1899.
Greece, Chalkis, Chalkis Museum
ca. 510-490 BC; Late Archaic

Preservation:
The head of Antiope was broken off but joins the remaining fragment break to break. The right arm and both legs of Theseus are missing, the tip of his nose has broken off. Antiope’s right leg, the left leg from the knee, her right lower arm, her left arm from the shoulder, and her nose have gone. A section of her torso on the left flank has broken off. Her face is more heavily scored and abraded, otherwise the surface is in good condition. Traces of colour are preserved on the figures.

Description:
The group depicts a male and a female figure. The male is nude except for a chlamys wrapped around his shoulders. He has short hair with a row of carefully arranged snail curls framing the forehead. His head is turned to the right. With his left arm he has lifted the woman up on his shoulder and is carrying her away. The woman wears a short chiton and a leather cuirass over it; her right arm rests on the man’s shoulders, her head is turned to the side and slightly lowered. She has long, carefully styled hair and wears a stephane. The back of both figures is only roughly picked. Remains of a large, square dowel hole are visible in the small of the back of the female figure.

Discussion:
The two figures are usually interpreted as Theseus and the Amazon Queen, Antiope. Theseus has won the fight and is about to mount his chariot (fragments of horses etc. were found) to carry her off, while in the corners of the pediment the battle is still in full swing. See also A 17.

Bibliography:
K. Kourouniotes, "Anaskaphai en Eretria" (Praktika 1900) 53-56 A brief first notice about the finds from the temple.
A. Stewart, "Aristion" (AAA 9 1976) 257-267 Discusses several sculptures attributed to Aristion from Paros, among them the pedimental sculptures from Eretria.
E. Touloupa, Ta Enaetia Glypta tou Naou Apollonos Daphnephorou sten Eretria (Ioannina 1983) Detailed study of the pedimental sculptures, including newly attributed pieces and a reconstruction (in modern Greek).
E. Touloupa, "Die Giebelskulpturen des Apollon Daphnephorostempels in Eretria" (Archaische und Klassische griechische Plastik I 1986) 143-151 pls. 59-65 lose plate 2 A summary of the previous in German.
H. Knell, Mythos und Polis (Darmstadt 1990) 64-67 A brief synopsis of the architecture and sculptural decoration of the temple.