Parthenon South Metope III

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Human: The Parthenon's South metope III displays a fierce battle scene between Lapiths and Centaurs at Peirithoos' marriage feast. A Lapith attacks a Centaur from behind, pinning his right knee on the creature's hindquarters and reaching for its neck with outstretched arm. The Centaur turns sharply back towards its attacker, its upper body exposed, while an animal skin is wrapped around its left arm. The Lapith wears boots and a long chlamys, with dowel holes visible for attaching metal weapons. Missing from the scene are the Lapith's left arm and foot, the Centaur's right arm and three legs, and parts of both figures' heads and the frame. The Metopes of the Parthenon are a series of 92 marble panels on the building's outside walls in Athens, Greece, forming part of the Doric frieze. Each side of the structure has a different subject, with the metopes together forming an elaborate sculptural program with the pediments, Ionic frieze, and statue of Athena Parthenos contained within the Parthenon. Fifteen south wall metopes were removed and are now part of the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum, while others have been destroyed. They are famous examples of Classical Greek high-relief. The southern wall metopes present the Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs, also known as the Centauromachy, where mythological Athenian king Theseus took part. The battle broke out during Pirithous' wedding feast when the Centaurs attacked the Lapiths while excluded from celebrations or under the influence of wine. This resulted in a fight between the Centaurs and Lapiths and an attempt by the former to abduct Lapith women. The Centaurs have animal features with linear drawings recalling theatrical masks, wearing animal skins and tree-branch weapons. The Lapiths fight nude or wearing chlamys, holding swords or spears which were formerly metallic attachments now lost. In some cases, they use shields for protection. There is a tendency to recognize Pirithous on metope 11 and Deidamia on metope 25 but no conclusive evidence exists. The presence of household utensils such as hydrias indicates an indoor battle fought with these items used as provisional weapons by the combatants. Certain compositions are repeated, whereas the overall execution is less ambitious than planned. Contrary to the eventual outcome and moral emphasizing the superiority of the civilized world over primeval disorder, the Centaurs win this fearless fight against the Lapiths. However, it is possible that the battle is still in its initial stages. In 1687, a cannonball struck the Parthenon during an attack by the Venetians on Athens. This event destroyed many south wall metopes, especially central ones. The existence of these metopes is now known only from Carrey's drawings executed in 1674 and their remaining fragments. Their subject matter is not clear as they present uncommon iconographical details. Some experts recognize Attic dynastic myths while others propose a subject related to the Centauromachy heroes' myths.