Hekatompedon - East Pediment Snake

Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece

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Hekatompedon – East Pediment Snake

Inventory Number: Ακρ. 37
Artist: Attic workshop
Category: Architectural sculpture
Period: Archaic
Date: ca. 570 BC
Dimensions:
Height: 0.41 m
Length: 1.68 m
Material: Poros limestone
Location: Archaic Acropolis Gallery

Fragments of a snake pieced together and restored with plaster. They were found in 1888 east and southeast of the Parthenon. Most likely they come from the east pediment of the Hekatompedon.

The slithering snake is covered with relief scales accentuated with bold red and deep green colour. Opening its mouth, the reptile raises its head, as it turns toward the centre of the scene. It was probably placed in the pediment’s left corner, presenting to the sculptor a brilliant solution for filling the narrow triangular space. The subject of the snake was very familiar as it references the oikouros ophis (guardian serpent) of the Acropolis; the snakes guarding Erichthonios and the lower part of the body of Attica’s mythical progenitors Kekrops and Erichthonios thus emphasizing the indigenous origin of the Athenians.

English Translation:
Hekatompedos. Snake from a pediment
It was placed on the left corner of the pediment of the lioness.
Around 570 BC. Poros (Acr. 37+)

Original Text:
Εκατόμπεδος. Φίδι από αέτωμα
Ήταν τοποθετημένο στην αριστερή γωνία του αετώματος της λέαινας.
Γύρω στο 570 π.Χ. Πωρόλιθος (Ακρ. 37+)

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Supplementary images:

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Archaic period painted poros limestone sculpture of a slithering snake from the Hekatompedon pediment

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Source:  Athens, Greece