6. symbols of power
Parthenon:
centauromachy
Lapiths vs Centaurs
● where were the Lapiths from? ● who helped?
○ Thessaly ○ Theseus
● who was the king and what was his story? ● what theme does this show?
○ Ixion ○ civilisation (Lapiths) vs barbarism
○ slept with Cloud Hera and (centaurs)
produced the Centaurs ● additional source
● what characteristics did the centaurs ○ Plutarch, Theseus
have? ● what are the strengths and weaknesses to
○ savage, wild, unskilled depicting the centauromachy: on a
● where did this centaromachy happen? metope; on a frieze; on a pediment?
○ at the wedding of king Pirithous ○ metope: individual battles in
(Ixion's son) with Hippodemia greater detail, but overall scenario
● what happened? is not there
○ Centaurs had too much undiluted ○ frieze: entirety of large battle is
wine and attacked shown for grand scale, but may
■ symbolism - didn't seem overwhelming to look at
understand culture of wine ○ pediment: large and triangle shape
drinking = barbaric! can be utilised - more balanced,
○ Theseus and Lapiths killed but could also be a hindrance
Centaurs
persians
Greeks vs Persians
● when and where did this battle happen?
○ Platea in 479 BC
● when was the sack of Athens?
○ 480 BC
● what theme does this show?
○ Greek victory over barbaric Persians
● significance from this for the Parthenon
○ Pericles rebuilt Parthenon 449 BC, centauromachy on metopes
● what did this symbolise?
○ sign of strength, also includes heroic Theseus
● out of how many metopes does the centauromachy take up?
○ 34 out of 92 metopes
● how is a metope successful?
○ recognisable
Parthenon:
centauromachy
Lapiths vs Centaurs
● where were the Lapiths from? ● who helped?
○ Thessaly ○ Theseus
● who was the king and what was his story? ● what theme does this show?
○ Ixion ○ civilisation (Lapiths) vs barbarism
○ slept with Cloud Hera and (centaurs)
produced the Centaurs ● additional source
● what characteristics did the centaurs ○ Plutarch, Theseus
have? ● what are the strengths and weaknesses to
○ savage, wild, unskilled depicting the centauromachy: on a
● where did this centaromachy happen? metope; on a frieze; on a pediment?
○ at the wedding of king Pirithous ○ metope: individual battles in
(Ixion's son) with Hippodemia greater detail, but overall scenario
● what happened? is not there
○ Centaurs had too much undiluted ○ frieze: entirety of large battle is
wine and attacked shown for grand scale, but may
■ symbolism - didn't seem overwhelming to look at
understand culture of wine ○ pediment: large and triangle shape
drinking = barbaric! can be utilised - more balanced,
○ Theseus and Lapiths killed but could also be a hindrance
Centaurs
persians
Greeks vs Persians
● when and where did this battle happen?
○ Platea in 479 BC
● when was the sack of Athens?
○ 480 BC
● what theme does this show?
○ Greek victory over barbaric Persians
● significance from this for the Parthenon
○ Pericles rebuilt Parthenon 449 BC, centauromachy on metopes
● what did this symbolise?
○ sign of strength, also includes heroic Theseus
● out of how many metopes does the centauromachy take up?
○ 34 out of 92 metopes
● how is a metope successful?
○ recognisable
