Olympia, Temple of Zeus: The West Pediment – XXIV
The Lapith women [Figures E, H, O, R in A. F. Stewart recostruction] play an unusually prominent role here: to my knowledge, they are not present in any earlier depictions of the myth. In addition, several of the Lapith women ("E", "V" , R) have one breast bared an innovation that may have been designed to remind the ancient viewer of the competitors in the Heraia, the footraces held in honor of the goddess Hera in Olympia, Greece since early ancient times. The presence of the Lapith women appealed to the ancient viewer, who easily would be reminded of the women at Olympia who were participants in the Heraia and spectators at the male games, women who were elevated to marriageable status in the former venue and were perhaps seeking husbands in the latter. Although the Lapith women do not seek husbands, they are assaulted by the Centaurs at a wedding and are defended by the heroic, athletic Lapiths, overseen by the god Apollo.
Source: The Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Heroes and Athletes – Hesperia (2005)
Marble Statuary group
ca. 470 BC - ca. 457 BC
Olympia, Peloponnese
Olympia, Temple of Zeus: The West Pediment – XXIV
The Lapith women [Figures E, H, O, R in A. F. Stewart recostruction] play an unusually prominent role here: to my knowledge, they are not present in any earlier depictions of the myth. In addition, several of the Lapith women ("E", "V" , R) have one breast bared an innovation that may have been designed to remind the ancient viewer of the competitors in the Heraia, the footraces held in honor of the goddess Hera in Olympia, Greece since early ancient times. The presence of the Lapith women appealed to the ancient viewer, who easily would be reminded of the women at Olympia who were participants in the Heraia and spectators at the male games, women who were elevated to marriageable status in the former venue and were perhaps seeking husbands in the latter. Although the Lapith women do not seek husbands, they are assaulted by the Centaurs at a wedding and are defended by the heroic, athletic Lapiths, overseen by the god Apollo.
Source: The Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Heroes and Athletes – Hesperia (2005)
Marble Statuary group
ca. 470 BC - ca. 457 BC
Olympia, Peloponnese