Parthenon Metopes
On the metopes, just under the roof, Phidias carved the battle between Lapiths (men) and centaurs (the Centauromachy), Greeks against Amazons (Amazonomachy), the gods against the giants (the Gigantomachy) and the sack of Troy.
Another Parthenon metope
All these stories show the greatness of the Greeks and of men and civilization in general, and how men and gods are able to beat anybody who fights them: giants, centaurs, Trojans, or women (Amazons are women).
More on the Parthenon
Take our quiz - how much do you know about the Parthenon?
To find out more about the Parthenon, check out these books on Amazon.com or in your library:
A Greek Temple, by Fiona MacDonald, Mark Bergin (2002) (this is specifically about the Parthenon, not just any Greek temple)
Parthenon, by Lynn Curlee (2004). For kids. Lovely pictures.
The Athenian Acropolis: History, Mythology, and Archaeology from the Neolithic Era to the Present, by Jeffrey M. Hurwit (2000). This is not a children's book, but it is pretty interesting reading. Hurwit is a archaeologist and art historian who works on the Athenian Acropolis.
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(a project)
First page on the Parthenon
Classical architecture
Ancient Greece home page
Kidipede home page
