Collection: Athens, Acropolis Museum
Title: Herakles and Triton pediment
Context: From Athens, Acropolis
Findspot: Found at Athens, Acropolis
Summary: Herakles and Triton
Material: Limestone
Sculpture Type: Architectural
Category: Separated fragments
Placement: Pediment
Style: High Archaic
Technique: High relief
Original or Copy: Original
Date: ca. 575 BC - ca. 550 BC
Dimensions: W. 3.535 m; H. 0.765 m
Scale: Slightly under life-size
Region: Attica
Period: High Archaic

Subject Description: Herakles wrestles a sea monster, probably Triton, with a long, fishy tail, and decorative scales. Broneer suggested that another fragment found on the Acropolis, Athens, Acropolis 6508 constitutes Herakles' head in this composition.

Form & Style: Schuchhardt and others have suggested that this group (along with Athens, Acropolis 35) decorated the pediment of the Old Temple of Athena.

Condition: Fragmentary

Condition Description: The figures have been reconstucted from many fragments. Bright colors--red, yellow, and blue--are preserved.

Associated Building: Athens, Old Temple of Athena

Sources Used: Brouskari 1974, 39-40, fig. 54

Other Bibliography: Lullies & Hirmer, pls. I-II, pl. 26; S. Benton in Studi in Onore di Luisa Banti (1965) 47-49; F. Brommer in MarbWPr 1947, 1-4; O. Broneer in Hesperia 18 (1939) 91 ff.; Schuchhardt 1940b, 20 ff.; W.-H. Schuchhardt, AM 1935, 86 ff.