The Fountain House Pediment
The Fountain House Pediment: view from the right side
| Collection: | Athens, Acropolis Museum |
| Title: | Fountain House pediment |
| Context: | From Athens, Acropolis |
| Findspot: | Found at Athens, Acropolis (found in 1888 to the East of the Parthenon). |
| Summary: | Troilus, ambushed by Achilles at the fountain house |
| 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. 1.48 m; H. 0.80 m; H. relief 0.17 m |
| Scale: | Miniature (pictorial field) |
| Region: | Attica |
| Period: | High Archaic |
Subject Description:
To the left of a fountainhouse, beneath an olive tree, and in front of an enclosure wall, walks a man, perhaps Troilos (of whom the thigh is preserved), shown profile to the right. Fragments of wall and entablature blocks comprise a the fountain house, a small gabled Archaic building, carefully articulated, towards which he walks. A woman emerges from the right side of the building; she is shown in a frontal pose and carries a hydria, or water jar, on top of her head. A second woman (whose torso is preserved), is walking to the right. A third woman (of whom only the legs are preserved), facing right, is likewise shown (standing or walking) to the right.
The scene is generally interpreted as the ambush of Troilus by Achilles; Troilus had come to the spring house to water his horses, where Achilles hid, waiting to attack the Trojan prince.
Condition: Fragmentary
Condition Description: The composition has been heavily restored; original fragments include the pediment and wall of the fountain house, an olive tree (incised on the back wall of the pediment), the thigh of a male figure approaching the fountain house, the torso of a woman walking to the right (shown in front of the fountain house), a frontal female figure standing within the fountain house, with her right arm in front of her body and her left arm raised, and the legs of another female (?) figure, shown profile to the right.
Sources Used:
Other Bibliography: MdI 1951, 103 ff.; ÖJh 1939, 19-27; E. Buschor, AM 1922, 81-91;