GREECE PELOPONNESE ELEIA OLYMPIA MUSEUM

The Western pediment of the temple of Zeus is arranged on the opposite wall of the hall. It illustrates the fight between the Thessalian tribe of the Lapiths and the Centaurs. Legends tell that this fight broke out during the marriage-feast of the Lapiths' king Peirithoos and Hippodameia. The Centaurs (body of a horse, human head and arms), after too much drinking, assaulted the Lapith women and boys. The Lapiths, assisted by their famous Athenian guest Theseus, slew back and in the end routed the Centaurs.

Despite all the tumult and dramatic action, the figures are quite austere and unmoved - typical for this period at the transition from the Archaic to Classic.

Central figure of the West pediment is the god Apollo. Having come to assist the Lapiths, he calmly towers above the fighting crowd.