ELGIN SALOON*. 
Many of the sculptures in this Room having been described by va¬ 
rious authors: and as they have been referred to by the numbers with 
which they were marked in their former situation, those numbers have 
been retained : but, to facilitate a reference from the Synopsis to the 
marbles, a fresh set of numbers, adapted to their present disposition, 
has been added, which will easily be distinguished from the former by 
being painted in red. The general order observed in affixing these 
numbers to the several objects is as follows:— 
1. The metopes of the Parthenon. 
2. The frieze of the Parthenon, commencing on the left hand of 
the visitor as he enters the room. 
3. Such of the sculptures placed along the middle of the room, as 
belonged to the eastern and western pediments of the Parthenon. 
4. The remaining articles placed along the middle of the room. 
5. The casts and bas-reliefs above the frieze on the eastern side of 
the room (those nearest the entrance being taken last in order). 
6. All the objects below the frieze, taken in their order of posi¬ 
tion, and commencing, as before, on the left of the entrance. 
The original numbers are subjoined to the descriptions. Those 
which have the letter A prefixed refer to such articles as were originally 
placed in the room then denominated the Fourteenth. 
Nos. 1—16. Sixteen of the metopes belonging to the Parthenon, 
(of which No. 9 is a cast in plaster, from the original in the Royal Mu¬ 
seum at Paris,) which, alternately with the triglyphs, ornamented the 
frieze of the entablature surmounting the colonnade : they represent the 
battle between the Centaurs and Lapithse, or rather between the Cen¬ 
taurs and Athenians, w 7 ho under Theseus joined the Lapithse (a people 
of Thessaly) in this contest. In some of these sculptures the Centaurs 
are victorious, in others the Athenians have the advantage, wffiile in 
others, again, the victory seems doubtful w T ith respect to either of the 
combatants. These magnificent specimens of ancient art are executed 
with great spirit in alto-relievo ; they were seen originally at a height 
of nearly forty-four feet from the ground. (11, 2, 8, 12, 15, 6, 4, 5, 
13, 7, 1, 3, 9, 14, 10.) 
No. 16 a. Metope of the right angle of the north side of the temple, 
representing two females, one seated on a rock, the other standing. 
No. 16b. Metope from the left corner of the west facade, repre¬ 
senting a horseman. 
No. 16 c. Cast of a metope ; Centaur bearing off a female. Re¬ 
cently discovered at Athens. 
The sculptures from 17 to 90 (inclusive) compose the exterior frieze 
of the cella of the Parthenon, which embellished the upper part of the 
walls within the colonnade at the height of the frieze of the pronaos, 
and which was continued in an uninterrupted series of sculpture entirely 
round the temple. It is in very low relief. The subject represents the 
* All the articles in this room, except a few which are particularly specified, 
belonged to the Earl of Elgin. 
