Parthenon Metope: Lapith and Centaur Struggle

This Parthenon metope (447–438 BC) depicts a battle between a Lapith and a Centaur, with the Centaur twisting in pain as it clutches its back. The Lapiths were a mythical Thessalian tribe renowned for their order and civility; their fight against the drunken Centaurs at King Pirithous’ wedding became a symbol of reason resisting chaos. The flying cloak heightens the drama, reinforcing Athens’ ideal of civilization triumphing over barbarism.