Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 075
Lapith and Centaur (South Metope 28); Parthenon

Marble (Pentelic)
Metope
H 139 cm; W 137 cm

The metope was removed from the Parthenon by Elgin in 1801/02 and subsequently transferred to London.
United Kingdom, London, British Museum, 316
High Classical, ca. 440 BC

Preservation:
The centaur’s head, right arm, forelegs and the lower part of his right hind leg with the hoof are missing, as are the Lapith’s face and right hand. His right knee is chipped. The upper corners of the metope are restored.

Description:
Depicted is a centaur in right profile and, below him, a Lapith in left profile. The centaur strides with raised forelegs over his defeated enemy, who lies dead on the ground; his wide pose dominates the relief. A panther skin is draped over his extended left arm; a paw of this skin is visible swinging behind his back, as are traces of a further object to the left of his (missing) head. His tail is raised upwards. The Lapith, nude except for a garment visible on the ground below him, fills the bottom of the metope. His torso is turned into a three-quarter profile, while his head was facing outwards.

Discussion:
Like the previous example, this metope is accomplished both in composition and execution. Here, the fight is just over, leaving the centaur victorious and triumphant. Carrey’s drawing shows that his right arm was originally raised, and the traces visible above his right shoulder may be remains of his weapon, perhaps a large vessel, while an animal skin draped over his left arm is used as a shield. On the south metopes in general see A 72.

Bibliography:
A. H. Smith, British Museum. The Sculptures of the Parthenon (London 1910) 36 pl. 22 fig. 2 Catalogue entry with basic information.
F. Brommer, Die Metopen des Parthenon (Mainz am Rhein 1967) 120-121 pls. 221-223 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) 52 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) 95-96 pls. 104-105 Detailed study of the Parthenon metopes based on the reconstructions in the Basel cast collection; an updated version of Brommer.