The West pediment
- Audio guide stop: 251
- Gallery: Room 18
- Audio guide: one commentary for a group of objects shown together
- Museum: The British Museum
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About these objects
These objects are part of the West pediment from the Parthenon, a monumental temple dedicated to the goddess Athena in ancient Athens. Created between 438 and 432 BC under the guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, the West pediment once displayed a dramatic scene: the mythical contest between Athena and Poseidon over control of Attica.
What you see here are fragments of figures that once lined the top of the temple, each carved from single blocks of marble. Some capture powerful gods and mythological figures caught mid-movement, while others show carefully draped garments still clinging to their forms.
One striking piece is a reclining male figure with draped fabric swirling around him—one could almost imagine him rising from rest. Another notable fragment is a female torso dressed in a chiton, where the folds of fabric are sculpted with such realism that you can almost feel the weight and flow of the fabric.
Though time has taken its toll, these sculptures still speak of the Parthenon’s artistry and grandeur. Look for the dynamic poses, finely detailed drapery, and subtle traces of metal attachments that once enhanced their appearance.
See it in person
The West pediment is on display in Room 18 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 251, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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