This temple was considered one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Libon was the architect when it was built in 470 BC, a time of prosperity when temples were being built everywhere. It is considered a masterpiece in terms of its design because it was one of the first conscious attempts at putting things in order/organization, which in ancient times meant that it had proportion, arrangement, and symmetry (which literally means “with measure”).
The 12 metape’s displayed the 12 labors of Hercules (Query: which came first, the labors or the metape’s?). The west pediment displayed the lapiths beating the centaurs with Apollo presiding over and calming them. Some of the lapiths had cauliflower ears, meaning they probably represented the athletes that would walk by this temple. You entered the temple under the east pediment, which displayed Zeus and a chariot race.
The 12 metape’s displayed the 12 labors of Hercules (Query: which came first, the labors or the metape’s?). The west pediment displayed the lapiths beating the centaurs with Apollo presiding over and calming them. Some of the lapiths had cauliflower ears, meaning they probably represented the athletes that would walk by this temple. You entered the temple under the east pediment, which displayed Zeus and a chariot race.