Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which stories were depicted in the metopes of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Olympia
Olympia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989.
The metopes of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia depicted the Twelve Labours of Heracles (Hercules). These sculptures were positioned on the frieze running above the temple's front and back porches, with six metopes located at each end.1
The traditional cycle of these twelve tasks, which Heracles performed to atone for his actions, includes:2
- Slaying the Nemean lion2
- Slaying the nine-headed Hydra of Lerna2
- Capturing the hind of Arcadia2
- Capturing the wild boar of Mount Erymanthus2
- Cleansing the cattle stables of King Augeas2
- Shooting the man-eating birds of the Stymphalian marshes2
- Capturing the mad bull of Crete2
- Capturing the man-eating mares of King Diomedes2
- Taking the girdle of Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons2
- Seizing the cattle of the giant Geryon2
- Bringing back the golden apples of the Hesperides2
- Fetching the dog Cerberus from the underworld2