Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 078
Female Head (South Metopes?); Parthenon

Marble (Pentelic)
Metope
H 18 cm

The head was found on the Athenian Acropolis, the exact circumstances are undocumented.
Greece, Athens, Acropolis Museum, 1309
High Classical, ca. 440 BC

Preservation:
Nose, mouth and chin are chipped, otherwise the surface is in good condition.

Description:
The head belongs to a female figure; it is turned to the right. The hair is parted in the middle, leading to the sides in parallel, wavy strands. A ribbon is visible on top.

Discussion:
In style and size the head is similar to the figures on the south metopes of the Parthenon. It has been tentatively ascribed to the heavily damaged metope 18 by some scholars, but it is by no means certain that it belongs. On the south metopes in general see A 72.

Bibliography:
S. Casson, Catalogue of the Acropolis Museum II (Cambridge 1921) 95-96 Catalogue entry with basic information.
F. Brommer, Die Metopen des Parthenon (Mainz am Rhein 1967) 141 no. 182 A very detailed study of the Parthenon metopes including previous bibliography and ample photographic documentation.