Inventory number
Ακρ. 20049
Artist
Pheidias' workshop
Category
Architectural sculpture
Period
Classical Period
Date
437-432 BC
Dimensions
Length: 0.392 m
Material
Marble from Penteli
Location
Parthenon Gallery
Fragment from a man’s left hand preserved from the wrist to the fingers. The man holds an oblong object with drills opened in each of its edges. It is interpreted as a thunderbolt, Zeus' foremost symbol, and in these holes fitted the bolt’s wings and rays which were most possibly made of bronze and then gilded.
The hand was discovered before 1982 amongst other marble sculpture fragments kept in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens but it remains unspecified when it was originally found. It is the only part of Zeus’ statue placed in the centre of the pediment that has been preserved. As has been the case with many other sculptures placed in the centre of the pediment, it was probably removed during the conversion of the Parthenon into a Christian church so that the inner sanctum’s niche could be constructed on this flank of the temple.The east pediment portrayed the miraculous birth of Athena from the head of her father Zeus. The scene takes place on Mt Olympus in the presence of the other gods who watch standing, sitting or half-reclining. The pediments' corners contained the chariots of Helios (Sun), which emerges from the sea, and Selene (Moon), which sinks in the ocean waves, indicating thus that the goddess' birth takes place at dawn. The centre of the scene was occupied by the statues of Zeus and Athena. Due to the misadventures suffered by the Parthenon over the following centuries, many of the temple's sculptures have been destroyed; some survive in mutilated form, while others are represented only by small fragments.
The two Parthenon pediments are adorned with about fifty oversized statues. The sculptures perfectly worked even on their unseen sides present scenes from the myths of the goddess Athena.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site
The use of your data is described in the privacy settings