Use of movement and characterization in the sculptures of the eastern and western pediments of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia The architectural sculpture of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia dates between 465 and 457 BC Putting the temple into historical context, this was quite a flourishing period in Greek history, drama, and philosophy. In 490 BC, the Athenians achieved a great victory at Marathon against the Persians, and in 480 BC the Persians sacked Athens but were ultimately defeated in a naval victory for the Athenians at Salamis. Greek tragedy was thriving during the 5th century, with Aeschylus' Oresteia written around the same time that sculptures for the temple of Zeus were created, and 5th-century philosophy was developing ideas about how one should act in society . This information proves relevant to our understanding of the development of Greek sculpture in this period and encourages us to recognize how sculptures from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia may reflect this prosperous period in Greek history. we will discuss the use of movement and characterization in the two pediments of the Temple of Zeus and how these enhance the narrative of the two stories depicted. I will also explore how the sculpture on these pediments represents the "flourishing" period of Classical Greece - a time when the Greeks celebrated the defeat of the Persians and when new ideas began to emerge from sculptors adapting concepts from Greek drama and Classical Greece . philosophical ideas. In his publication, EN Gardener objects to the lack of appreciation for the sculptures on the east and west pediments of the Temple of Zeus: "The r...... center of the paper ...... troubled by the fact that it is brought away from a drunken creature, half man and half horse, on her wedding day (see figure 6). The fact that she is a female victim does not exempt her from expressing the appropriate civilized "Greek" face , the characterization depicted on the western pediment enhances the narrative regarding the idea of ​​civilization versus barbarism, and the use of movement enhances the fast pace of the narrative. The philosophical concepts surrounding 5th century Greece strengthened the awareness of human emotional expression and how to behave with self-control, and the Lapiths on the western pediment certainly reflect this. In the eastern pediment, the themes of Greek tragedy and the characterization present in figures such as that of the old seer increase the tension, which in turn strengthens the narrative...