Basic Information

- Period: Approximately 570 BC, Archaic Period

- Material: Limestone, with numerous remnants of original pigments (black and blue)

- Collection: Acropolis Museum, from the west frieze of the old temple Hekatompedon (Hundred-Foot Temple), belonging to the same set of temple wall carvings as the previous sculpture of Heracles and Telios

- Type: Temple frieze architectural sculpture

Interpretation of the Picture

The relief depicts a scene where two lions pounce and tear at a bull:

1. On the right, the bull lies on the ground, its body tense, its head twisted backward, showing a dying struggle; a large area of black pigment is retained on the body to depict the texture of its fur.

2. On the left, the lion is crouching, its front paws pressing against the bull's body, its head incomplete, and it is tearing at the bull's neck.

This group represents the central main scene of the western triangular pediment. The three groups of the triangular pediment's composition: in the center, two lions are devouring a bull; on one side, Hercules is fighting Teritonus; on the other side, there are three monsters.