Greek
Temple of Zeus at Olympia: Man with Sword from West Pediment
Description:
THE TEMPLE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA: This temple underwent construction most likely around 470 B.C. The exact date of its completion is not certain, but it must have been in a fairly finished state in 457 B.C., as we read of the Spartans placing a golden shield on the apex of the eastern pediment after the battle of Tanagra, which took place in that year. The temple was excavated first on a small scale by the French, in 1829, and later by the Germans in 1857-81.
WESTERN PEDIMENT: The scene on the Western Pediment illustrates the wedding feast of Peirithoos, who was the king of the Lapiths. At the feast, there was tension between the centaurs and the wedding guests. The drunken centaurs attacked the guests. Peirithoos and Theseus fought the centaurs, saving the guests from further harm. Apollo stands in the center of the pediment with Peirithoos and Theseus on either side. The rest of the pediment consists of the fighting centaurs and guests.This cast represents a bearded man with a sword in his chest, and the hand of the opposing figure attached to this sword. This cast is part of the battle scene at the feast.
The pediments were built at Olympia, one of the most sacred places to the Greeks, probably around 460 BC. The figures are known to be far less skillfully crafted than those at the Parthenon. The architecture erected at Olympia was, for the most part, in honor of the god Zeus.
Period of Original: Greek & Roman
Origin of Original: N/A
Location of the Cast: 20 W. 44 St. New York, NY USA
Provenance: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Condition: The cast has been thoroughly cleaned.
Additional Information:
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