Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 071
Two Divinities (North Metope 32); Parthenon

Marble (Pentelic)
Metope
H 139 cm; W 118 cm

The metope has remained on the Parthenon. An early cast was taken by Lord Elgin in 1801.
Greece, Athens, in situ
High Classical, ca. 440 BC

Preservation:
The figure on the left is missing her left hand, right arm from below the shoulder, and right foot. The garment below the left arm is partly scored. The figure on the right is without her head, right hand, left arm, and feet.

Description:
The metope shows to female figures in rich dress facing each other. The youthful looking woman standing on the left wears a peplos belted over the outside and has a himation draped over her left arm, the end of which she holds with her right hand. The figure opposite her is seated on a rock. She wears a chiton with sleeves and a mantle, her right is raised in a gesture of conversation.

Discussion:
The 32 metopes on the north side of the Parthenon were defaced by early Christians when the temple was converted into a church. They suffered further damage during the great explosion of 1687. Their exact content is still debated. The outer metopes on both sides show assemblies of various gods, related, as most scholars believe, to the scenes from the Iliupersis, or sack of Troy, depicted in the centre. This metope is the best preserved of the entire series, probably spared by the Christians because it was interpreted as a representation of the Annunciation. From the context it seems clear that the two figures shown are goddesses. The one on the left is usually identified as Athena, although she is lacking her typical attribute, the aegis; the figure on the right is often seen as Hera, although Aphrodite or regional personifications such as Asia or Troas have also been suggested.

Bibliography:
A. H. Smith, British Museum. The Sculptures of the Parthenon (London 1910) 43 pl. 23 fig. 1 Catalogue entry with basic information.
F. Brommer, Die Metopen des Parthenon (Mainz am Rhein 1967) 59-63 pls. 132-138 A very detailed study of the Parthenon metopes including previous bibliography and ample photographic documentation.
E. Berger, Der Parthenon in Basel. Dokumentation zu den Metopen (Basel 1986) 48-50 pls. 34-35 Detailed study of the Parthenon metopes based on the reconstructions in the Basel cast collection; an updated version of Brommer.