Elgin Marbles: West Pediment

Figure 45; thought to represent Hermes; "Elgin Marbles" is a popular term for the collection of sculpture from the Parthenon acquired by Lord Elgin in Athens between 1801-1805. The collection includes other works from the Acropolis as well. The Parthenon sculpture includes roughly half of what now survives: 247 feet of the original 524 feet of frieze; 15 of 92 metopes; 17 figures from the pediments, and various other pieces of architecture. The west pediment of the Parthenon showed a local Athenian myth, the contest between the goddess Athena and Poseidon, god of the sea, for the land of Attica (the city of Athens and its countryside). Athena and Poseidon were shown on a colossal scale at the centre of the triangular composition, while other figures were ranged on either side. These included two chariot groups, one for each of the protagonists. Source: British Museum [website]; http://www.britishmuseum.org (accessed 6/14/2009