Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 023
Theseus and Antiope (Metope 8); Athenian Treasury, Delphi

Marble (Parian)
Metope
H 67 cm

From the Athenian Treasury at Delphi. The various fragments were found in 1893 closely together in a section of a modern house above the south-east corner of the treasury.
Greece, Delphi, Museum, 78+83+86a.b+95
Late Archaic, after 490 BC

Preservation:
The figure of Theseus is missing both arms and legs, Antiope the entire right arm, the left arm from above the elbow and the lower part of her body from the waist downwards. The surface is heavily scored and abraded. (Fragments of the plinth with the left foot of Antiope and parts of her shield are also preserved, but not included in the cast; the cast shows the figures too much in a vertical position.)

Description:
Although the metope is badly fragmented, enough is preserved to make out that it depicted a fight between a male and a female figure. The male figure is nude except for a chlamys draped around his shoulders. His hair is long in the back and rolled up in snail curls over the forehead. He wears an Attic helmet. The muscles of his body are tense and depicted in great detail; he stands up, slightly turned forward, about to deal a blow with a weapon that he must have held in his right hand. With his lowered left he must have pulled the female figure towards him who is struggling to get away. She is dressed with a chiton and a leather cuirass over it, and also wears a helmet.

Discussion:
The metope depicts a fight between a Greek and an Amazon. The figures have traditionally been interpreted as Theseus, marked out by his heroic nudity, and the Amazon queen Antiope (cf. also the Eretria pediment, A 18). The composition reflects the tense dynamic of the fight; the head of the victorious Theseus extended beyond the upper frame of the metope.

Bibliography:
J. Audiat, "Le Tresor des Atheniens" (FdD II 1933) Gives a full account of the architecture and reconstruction of the treasury.
P. de la Coste-Messeliere, "Sculptures du Tresor des Atheniens" (FdD IV 4 1957) 70-81 pls. 27-30 The thorough original publication of the sculptures. The Theseus metopes are reconstructed on the south and east sides, the Heracles metopes on the west and north. Following Pausanias a date after 490 BC is proposed.
K. Hoffelner, "Die Metopen des Athener-Schatzhauses. Ein neuer Rekonstruktionsversuch" (AM 103 1988) 77-117 foldout 5 (esp. 86-87 fig.8) Provides a detailed description of the metopes. H. argues for a date before 490 BC and offers a different reconstruction (Theseus metopes on south and north, Heracles metopes on the east and west sides; some 'Heraclesmetopes' are ascribed to Theseus.
H. Knell, Mythos und Polis (Darmstadt 1990) 52-63 Is a comprehensive account of the sculptural decoration and the chronological arguments.