Basic Information

- Date: Approximately 570 BC, Archaic Period

- Material: Limestone, with a large amount of original painted remnants (red, black, blue)

- Collection: Acropolis Museum, from the west frieze of the old temple Hekatompedon (a hundred-foot temple)

- Type: Architectural cornice sculpture (frieze relief), early Greek temple decoration

Interpretation of the Picture

The main scene depicts the hero Heracles fighting against the son of the sea god Triton:

1. Heracles: The right side is a strong naked man with a beard, exerting force to subdue the monster. Triton is a half-human, half-sea serpent sea spirit, with a long snake-like fish tail, and the fish-scale areas still retain the original painted patterns.

2. Triton's huge body stretches horizontally across the low space of the frieze, with the tail extending to the left, perfectly fitting the contour of the triangular cornice.

This section is the left part of the triangular pediment; the original gable wall has two other groups of decorations: two lions devouring a bull, and three monsters.