Doric Friezes

Question 1

What are the main problems with metopes

Answer 1

Limited frame causes problems and compromises narrative

Question 2

Where is the heroic cattle raid from ? Metope

Answer 2

Sikyonian treasury

Delphi

Question 3

How successful is the heroic cattle raid metope ?

Consider archaic traits

Answer 3

Narrative - heroes march with cows
Despite archaic traits with patterned emphasis which may detract from realism …
Formulaic, repetitive composition with bold patterns and repeated lines
- parallel line with raiders holding spears in left hand
- horizontal line with raiders holding spears in right hand
- frontally emphasised cows
-walking in unison

Depth perception conveyed with spears behind men
And fills space
And conveys narrative
You could also like the patterned aesthetic

Question 4

Where is the Herakles and the kerkopes metope from ?

Answer 4

Temple C at Sicily

Question 5

How successful is the Herakles and the kerkopes metope ?

Consider archaic traits

Answer 5

Despite archaic traits…

• Herakles 3/4 turn struggle
• kerkopes looking identical -perhaps unrealistic with their archaic hair and smiles and arm positions in the same place
• all figures frontally emphasised

Also
Their is space at the bottom
However
Depth perception shown with Herakles sword
This is arguably necessary to show Herakles lifting them which is in line with the myth
Archaic traits also go with myth - the kerkopes smile at herakles’ bottom etc …
most of space is filled and narrative is clearly conveyed

Question 6

What is the myth associated with Herakles and the kerkopes ?

Answer 6

Imps caught stealing from Herakles
Herakles bring imps to town carrying them- they laugh at his bottom as their mother warned them “beware of the black bottomed one”, Herakles then lets them go

Question 7

What’s the different between Doric and iconic friezes ?

Answer 7

Doric - triflifs and metopes

Ionic - continuous pattern or narrative

Question 8

What do the temple of Zeus at olympia’s Doric internal metopes depict?

Answer 8

12 labours of Herakles

Question 9

Which 4 metopes on the temple of Zeus at olympia do we need to know ?

Answer 9

Nemean lion
Cretan bull
Golden apples of Hesperides
Stables of Augeus

Question 10

Describe the success of the composition -nemean lion metope on the temple of Zeus at Olympia

Answer 10

Composition - Herakles (young) looking tired/ sad over a bull while Athene and Hermes look on

• space filled
• depth perception with Herakles foot

Good points

• gods superiority conveyed with their upright posture
• lion lolling tongue - emphasising the defeat
• Herakles is beardless and sad in coherence with this being the first labour !

Question 11

Describe the success of the composition -CRETAN BULL METOPE on the temple of Zeus at Olympia

Answer 11

• space
  Not only filled but confines are used to convey further depth in narrative.
  Figures jump against eachother pushing against metope confines emphasising the struggle of the man vs beast battle
• during dynamic jump bull and Herakles do not break eye contact
• bulls head twist emphasis it’s monstrous bulk as if it wasn’t twisted it wouldn’t fit in metope - emphasises man vs beast struggle

HIGH AND LOW RELIEF
Herakles in front

VERY SUCCESSFUL MAN VS BEAST PORTRAYAL
Depth perception !

Question 12

Describe the success of the composition -GOLDEN APPLES OF HESPERIDES metope on the temple of Zeus at Olympia

Answer 12

Composition -
Athene ready to catch the universe if Herakles drops it , Herakles holds universe, atlas brings the apples
Space not only filled
But confine used in narrative - Herakles holds up the metope - representative of him holding up the universe

Strong points
- differentiation between Athene and herakles shown in size and strength as Athene reaches to potentially help him with one hand whilst Herakles has a cushion
Potential weakeness
- static composition

Question 13

How does the metope of the apples of Hesperides depict Herakles ?
Link to location of the temple ?

Answer 13

Herakles - older with a beard
- in the process of manipulating atlas and demonstrating his physical strength
This depicts Herakles as the ideal athlete - mentally and physically
This coincides with the metope’s location at Olympia

Question 14

Describe the success of the composition -AUGEAN STABLES metope on the temple of Zeus at Olympia

Answer 14

Composition - Two figures
Herakles and Athene
Points
- differentiation between Athene and Herakles shown by exertion on task

Limitations

• diagonal lines with Athene’ spear and herakles’ shovel are a bit archaic looking
• Herakles is leaning in his exertion, when standing up he may be same size as Athene

Question 15

What does the Parthenon’s exterior Doric frieze that we look at depict ?

Answer 15

Centauromachy !

Question 16

How many metopes are on the Parthenon’s exterior Doric frieze ?

Answer 16

92

Question 17

Which side of the Parthenon’s exterior doric frieze do we look at ?

Answer 17

South

Question 18

Which metopes do we look at on the Parthenon’s Doric exterior Frieze

Answer 18

1 , 26, 27, 28

Question 19

What is the composition of METOPE ONE on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?

Answer 19

Laptih going to stab centaur
Centaur has Lapith in a headlock and is going to his him with a rock.

Successful
- not clear who is winning emphasises the struggle of man to overcome barbarity
- weaponary differentiation emphasises the barbarity of the centaur
- high and low relief with grotesque intertwined limbs of centaur and Lapith
Weakness
- gap in the right of the composition

However gap could convey centaur pushing Lapith into the corner

Question 20

What is the composition of METOPE 26 on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?

Answer 20

Lapith in shit cape kicks centaur with no neck

Strengths -
Lapith unruly beard emphasises barbarity
Limits -
- gaps in right and bottom of composition
- centaur problematic proportions looks like baby horse lol
- drapery very low relief but not utilised to convey movement and add dynamism. Just there to fill space seemingly
- movement of figures does not convey fluidity of battle

Question 21

What is the composition of METOPE 27 on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?

Answer 21

Composition - Lapith with sick drapery grabs Centaur about to give fatal blow. Lapith and centaur lean out to different sides

Strengths

• frame used to emphasise dynamic movement with figures leaping out against confines of frame - coherent with narrative
• drapery is detailed with fluid catenaries, drapery conveys movement matador-Esque
• centaur realistic turn with vein to convey exertion
• dangerous high relief of Lapith with leg coming out !

Question 22

What is the composition of METOPE28 on the EXTERIOR DORIC frieze on the south side of the Parthenon?
How successful is this in portraying civilisation vs barbarity ?

Answer 22

Composition - Lapith on ground dead while centaur with realisation pelt waves arms above him in triumph

• the narrative conveys civilisation and barbarity well as it further emphasises the struggle of civilisation to defeat barbarity.

Strengths -
-Centaur pelt modelling 
- centaur pelt conveys barbaric nature 
-Lapith nudity conveys vulnerability 
rather than heroism 
- centaur's tail flicks upwards conveying dynamic movement

Question 23

List the friezes studied in order including individual metopes of the same temple

Answer 23

Heroic cattle raid at sikonyion treasury 
Herakles and the kerkopes at temple c at Sicily 
Herakles' labours including 
Nemean boar 
Cretan bull 
Golden apples of Hesperides 
Augean stables 
At temple of Zeus at Olympia 
Parthenon's exterior Doric frieze 
Including metopes 
1 
26
27
28