Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 056
Head of Lapith Girl (E); Olympia West Pediment

Marble (Parian)
Pedimental Figure
H 36 cm

From the west pediment of the Temple of Zeus. The fragments of the head were found in 1880 built into later structures between the Byzantine church and the Palaestra.
Greece, Olympia, Olympia Museum
ca. 460 BC; Early Classical

Preservation:
The head consists of four (?) joining fragments. There is a long break running through the entire face in an almost vertical line just to the left of the nose. The nose and lips, as well as the left eye and most of the brow are heavily abraded. (The left part of the chin with the left lower jar and the adjoining section of the head are missing on the cast, but preserved in an existing fragment). The hand grabbing the hair in the back is broken at the wrist.

Description:
The head belongs to a young woman with long hair. The hair is parted in the middle and drawn back, where it is grabbed by the hand of a second figure. The individual, wavy strands are incised and each divided into two. They form long, parallel waves, except for the left side of the face where some locks run out in short curls. The face is sleek and oval, with slightly parted lips. The hand of the second figure is strong, with carefully rendered veins and sinews.

Discussion:
The head belongs to a Lapith woman from the west pediment. Most of her body except for the arms is preserved. She is being forced down to her knees by an attacking centaur (A 55), who is holding her around the waist with his hind leg and tightly grabbing her hair with his left hand. The woman in turn is struggling to push him away, with her right hand pressed against his face, while with her left she seems to have tried to loosen his grip. Her head is turned forward in an attempt to break free. The face is calm, only the opened mouth and slightly contracted brows reveal her agitation.

Bibliography:
G. Treu, Die Bildwerke in Stein und Thon (= Olympia III) (Berlin 1895) 85-87; 108 figs 143-145 pls. 30; 31.1 This is the thorough original publication providing details on findspot, preservation etc.
B. Ashmole and N. Yalouris, Olympia. The Sculptures of the Temple of Zeus (London 1967) 21; 179 pls. 78-81 A valuable and richly illustrated discussion including new fragments.