High Relief: Heracles Capturing The Cretan Bull

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The fourth metope showcases Herakles' gripping capture of the Cretan Bull, destined to be brought alive to King Eurystheus. The Early Classical preference for a moment late in the struggle is clearly demonstrated once more. Herakles has already lassoed the bull and is securing him under final control. To emphasize the colossal size of the bull, the sculptor devised an innovative composition for this episode's first depiction on a monumental scale. Herakles and the bull form two intersecting diagonals, with the head and right foreleg of the bull pulled back to allow its massive body to occupy the entire breadth of the metope. The heads of both Herakles and the bull are turned back and face each other, effectively knitting the composition even more tightly together. The upper two-thirds of the metope (located in Paris) remain relatively intact, with the exception of Herakles' arms and legs missing. In contrast, the head of the bull and the lower third of the metope are housed in Olympia, while the lower third and projecting elements show significant signs of battering. Although weathered, the surface of the upper metope is better preserved. At the time of their discovery, the fragments still retained some color, with red on the bull and blue on the background.