Unidentified sculptor, Amazon and Greek fighting with another Amazon supporting wounded companion on the right.

Amazon and Greek fighting with another Amazon supporting wounded companion on the right., c. 420-400 B.C.

After Unidentified sculptor

RA Collection: Art

Plaster cast of a carved marble block from the East side of the continuous frieze of the Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassae, in the British Museum (museum number 1815,1020.20). The East and South frieze shows the battle between Amazons and the Greeks which was led by Herakles.

This block shows on the left a battle between an Amazon and a Greek. The Amazon, wearing a short peplos open at the side and a mantle draped over her left arm and behind her back, rushes forward towards the Greek. The Greek wears an exomis and a flying cloak. His right arm is raised holding a sword. To the right of the block an Amazon supports a wounded companion who has sunk to the ground and whose left breast is bare. Both wear thin, short peploi, that clings to the body.

The Temple of Apollo Epikourios ('Apollo the Helper') at Bassae (Phigalia) in southwest Arcadia, Greece was built between 420-400 BC by the architect Iktinos. A sculpted Ionic frieze of 23 slabs ran around the interior of the main room (cella) of the temple. It showed three battle scenes, the Trojan Amazonomachy, the Herakleian Amazonmachy, and the Centauromachy.

In the summer of 1811 Carl Haller and R.C. Cockerell noticed these panels by chance, supposedly while peering down a fox hole. Haller returned to excavate in 1812. In 1814, the British Museum purchased all of the slabs. Under the direction of Richard Westmacott RA in 1816, the Royal Academy commissioned casts of the complete frieze. Sixteen of the 23 casts are still today at the Academy.

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Object details

Title

Amazon and Greek fighting with another Amazon supporting wounded companion on the right.

From

After Unidentified sculptor

Cast made by

Royal Academy of Arts

From

The Bassae Sculptures; The Phigaleian Frieze.

Date

c. 420-400 B.C.

Object type

Cast Sculpture

Medium

Plaster cast

Dimensions

720 mm x 1360 mm x 150 mm

Collection

Royal Academy of Arts

Object number

03/1939

Acquisition

Made in-house

Keywords

Woman Fighting Wound Shield Support Holding Amazons Greek Mythology Figures Arm Raised

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