Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 107
Amazonomachy (Bassae, Temple of Apollo, Frieze). London.

Marble
Frieze
H: ca. 64 cm; W: 183 cm

From Bassae. First discovered by Carl Haller and Charles Cockerell in 1811, the frieze slabs were excavated in 1812 and subsequently sold to the British Museum.
United Kingdom, London, British Museum, 541
High Classical, ca. 425-400 BC

Preservation:
The mounted figure on the left is severely damaged. Of her upper body only the left hand and right elbow remain. The next figure has lost its entire right and lower left leg. Most of Heracles’ right leg from below the knee is missing, several of the other figures are chipped in places. The heads of the third and sixth figures are either restored or were attributed to different reliefs since the cast was taken.

Description:
The relief shows a total of six figures, tow of them mounted on horseback. They are divided into three pairs fighting each other. To the left a mounted figure in short chiton and high boots charges forward on her horse. On the ground before her is a naked man with a pilos helmet, a mantle wrapped around his left arm. Behind him a female figure clad in a chiton moves to the left, a pelta shield on her raised left arm. Straining away from her is another man. His right is raised and must have brandished a weapon, while a lion skin is wrapped around his left arm. Further to the right is yet another female in a short chiton. She rests on a horse that has broken down on its front legs, her limbs stretched out lifelessly, while a man, naked except for a cloak fastened around his neck, has taken hold of her left foot and arm and pulls her to the ground.

Discussion:
This slab depicts the central scene of the battle. Heracles and the Amazon Queen Hippolyte fight each other in the centre, while Amazons on horseback and Greeks on foot are locked in close combat around them. The outcome of the fight is still unclear, as on the left the Amazon appears victorious, while on the right a Greek seems to have slain his enemy. On the Bassae frieze in general see A 106.

Bibliography:
A.H. Smith, A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum III (London 1904) 287 no. 541 Catalogue entry with basic information.
H. Knell, Mythos und Polis. Bildprogramme griechischer Bauskulptur (Darmstadt 1990) 150-159 Good summary and bibliography of recent research on the frieze.
B. Madigan, The Sculpture [= F. A. Cooper (ed.), The Temple of Apollo Bassitas, vol. II] (Princeton, N. J. 1993) esp. 73-78 pl. 49 The most recent study on the frieze, based on new research on the architecture and order of the frieze slabs. Good summary of previous theories and extensive bibliography.