Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 067
Herakles and the Stymphalian Birds (West 3); Olympia Metope

Marble (Parian)
Metope
H 160 cm

From the western porch of the Temple of Zeus. The head and right arm (except the hand) of Heracles and the entire body of Athena were found in 1829 in the western pteron close to the southern column of the opisthodomos and are in Paris; the remaining fragments were found later in the west pteron, to the west of the temple, and further away built into later structures and are in Olympia.
Greece, Olympia, Olympia Museum
ca. 465-460 BC; Early Classical

Preservation:
The figure of Heracles is missing both thighs and the right leg from below the knee. A large section of his left arm and the frontal part of his left foot have broken off. Most of the fingers of both hands and the membrum are gone. Athena is completely preserved, only the tip of her nose is missing and a part of the marble surface next to her right hand has broken off. Larger sections of the relief ground to the left of Athena and around Heracles’ legs are missing; the surface is in good condition but worn in parts and scored along the breaks. Heracles’ right hand has also been found but is not included in the cast. Traces of dark red paint were visible on the band in Athena’s hair, her lips, and on the gorgoneion, as well as on Heracles’ hair, when the metope was found.

Description:
The metope shows a woman dressed with a chiton and an aegis draped over her chest, sitting on a rock on which she is resting her left hand. Her face has idealized features; the hair is parted in the middle, taken up in the back, and held by a wide band. A small section of the hair in the back has been worked off. She is turning back to a second figure on the right, and reaching with her right hand to the centre. The hand is drilled through and must have held an object, traces of which are preserved in the broken section next to it. In a relaxed pose on her side stands a nude hero with a bearded face and short hair. He is seen frontally, but slightly turned to the woman to whom he glances. His left arm is held downwards, the left hand is drilled through and must have held an attribute. The same is true for the right hand; the right arm was slightly raised and reached towards the woman.

Discussion:
The metope depicts Heracles and Athena in a calm, intimate scene. As on the metope with the Nemeian Lion (A 66) the moment after the main action is shown: Heracles, who must have held a bronze bow in his left, hands Athena the Stymphalian birds. Pleased with her hero, the goddess accepts the trophies (which had been added separately in marble) with a gentle smile.

Bibliography:
G. Treu, Die Bildwerke in Stein und Thon (= Olympia III) (Berlin 1895) 145; 160-162 figs. 183-185 pls. 36.3; 37.1-2 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) 25-26; 181 pls. 153-161 A valuable and richly illustrated discussion including new fragments.