Explore the Description of this artwork, Elgin Marbles.
The Parthenon Marbles acquired by Elgin include some 21 figures from the statuary from the east and west pediments, 15 of an original 92 metope panels depicting battles between the Lapiths and the centaurs, as well as 75 metres of the Parthenon frieze which decorated the horizontal course set above the interior architrave of the temple. As such, they represent more than half of what now remains of the surviving sculptural decoration of the Parthenon.Elgin's acquisitions also included objects from other buildings on the Athenian Acropolis – a caryatid from the Erechtheion; four slabs from the parapet frieze of the Temple of Athena Nike; and a number of other architectural fragments of the Parthenon, Propylaia, Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athene Nike – as well as the Treasury of Atreus in Mycenae.The British Museum also holds additional fragments from the Acropolis acquired from various collections that have no connection with Elgin.
Acropolis British Museum centaur Parthenon Marbles Treasury of Atreus caryatid metope frieze Temple of Athena Nike pediments Parthenon pediment Athenian Acropolis Athena Lapith architectural Lapiths Parthenon frieze Marble Erechtheion Mycenae Propylaia