Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 108
Amazonomachy (Bassae, Temple of Apollo, Frieze). London.

Marble
Frieze
H: ca. 64 cm; W: 123 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, 542
High Classical, ca. 425-400 BC

Preservation:
The right foot of the first figure and the left foot of the second figure from the left are missing. The head of the figure furthest on the right has broken off. The left hand of the figure in front of her is missing, the right hand chipped.

Description:
Depicted are five figures, four of them female. The women all wear short chitons and high boots. To the left a woman advances towards the centre. Her arms are stretched forward, and her right appears to have held a bow. A shield is strapped to her back. Next to her is another woman, a pelta shield in her left hand, while her right is raised over her head and must have held a sword. On the ground before them is a naked man, his head lowered and his right arm raised in a gesture of submission. To the right are two more women. One has sunk to the ground and is supported by the other who has taken hold of her with both arms. This second figure has a scabbard strapped to her side.

Discussion:
On this slab (it immediately joins A 107) the Amazons outnumber and overwhelm their Greek foes. One Greek sits on the ground, pleading for mercy. He is about to be despatched by his adversary, but another Amazon is moving forward and gesturing with her left hand as if she was intervening on his behalf, perhaps an indication that the fight had broken out spontaneously. Further to the right, yet another Amazon supports her wounded companion. 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. 542 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.