Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 060 A
Theseus (M); Olympia West Pediment

Marble (Parian)
Pedimental Figure
H 175 cm; W 125 cm

From the west pediment of the Temple of Zeus. The fragments were found between 1876 and 1884, scattered to the west of the temple, one of them built into a later structure.
Greece, Olympia, Olympia Museum
ca. 460 BC; Early Classical

Preservation:
Preserved are several joining fragments of the lower torso, legs, and plinth. The upper part of the torso has broken off diagonally from about the navel on. Most of the right leg above the knee, and of the left leg between the knee and ankle is missing. The tips of the first two toes of the left foot are gone. The entire surface is weathered, with irregular chips along the breaks.

Description:
The fragments belong to a heroic figure represented in a wide stance. The left foot is set forward and seen in profile, the right foot turned and seen from the front. The upper body was also turned to the front. Falling from the left thigh downwards and covering also the right shin is a mantle that serves to connect and stabilize both legs. The back of the sculpture is only roughly picked; both feet are bare, although on the right heel remains of a sole seem to be preserved. There are indications of an ancient repair on the inside of the left knee.

Discussion:
The fragments belong to a heroic figure considerably above life size from the west pediment, to which also the head A 60 B has been attributed. It stood close to the centaur-Lapith group A 61 that it partly obscured, as corresponding cuttings on the left side of this figure and the centaur’s body indicate. The hero must represent Theseus, who has come to the support the Lapiths. See also A 60 B.

Bibliography:
G. Treu, Die Bildwerke in Stein und Thon (= Olympia III) (Berlin 1895) 76-77; 110 fig. 120 pl. 26.1 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) 17-18; 178 pls. 92-95 A valuable and richly illustrated discussion including new fragments.