Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 073
Centaur and Lapith (South Metope 4); Parthenon

Marble (Pentelic)
Metope
H 139 cm; W 126 cm

The heads of both figures were taken in 1688 to Copenhagen by a Danish officer serving in Morosini’s force, the metope itself was removed from the Parthenon by Elgin in 1801/02 and subsequently transferred to London.
United Kingdom, London, British Museum, 307
High Classical, ca. 440 BC

Preservation:
The Lapith’s right arm from above the elbow and his right leg are missing, as are most of the centaur’s legs, his right hand, his left arm from the shoulder to the wrist, and his tail. The upper corners of the metope are restored. The cast unites fragments now in different museums. [London, British Museum, inv. no. 307; Copenhagen, National Museum inv. nos. 13 (head and right arm of centaur), 14a (head of Lapith).]

Description:
The Lapiths has sunk to the ground and unsuccessfully tries to protect himself with his round hoplite shield, pushed aside by the attacking centaur who is about to crush him with a huge water vessel (hydria) that he holds in his raised arms. The astragalus along the upper rim of the metope is plastically rendered.

Discussion:
The scene, with the action concentrated in the left corner of the metope, shows the moment before the decisive blow. The heads of the adversaries are carved in the high classical style, with the centaur showing entirely human features. All the focus is on the eye contact between the two opponents. The centaur’s makeshift weapon points to an indoor setting at the mythical wedding feast. Carrey’s drawing shows the figures more complete; the heads were carried off by a Danish officer serving with Morosini’s force already in 1688. On see south metopes in general see A 72.

Bibliography:
A. H. Smith, British Museum. The Sculptures of the Parthenon (London 1910) 30 pl. 17 fig. 2 Catalogue entry with basic information.
F. Brommer, Die Metopen des Parthenon (Mainz am Rhein 1967) 80-82 pls. 172-177 A very detailed study of the Parthenon metopes including previous bibliography and ample photographic documentation.
T. Bowie and D. Thimme, The Carrey Drawings of the Parthenon Sculptures (Bloomington 1971) 46 Important study of the drawings made by Carrey before the Parthenon was damaged in 1687.
E. Berger, Der Parthenon in Basel. Dokumentation zu den Metopen (Basel 1986) 84 pls. 80-83 Detailed study of the Parthenon metopes based on the reconstructions in the Basel cast collection; an updated version of Brommer.