High relief representing the Greek mythological theme of the fight of the lapitas, who won the battle against the rural centaurs; these ones, invited to the wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia, and overexcited after drinking too much wine , tried to kidnap and rape their wives .The composition of this picture, with oblique lines that cross, together with the anatomical treatment of the figures and the strong light contrast, stresses the violent movement, typical of this scene. The battle between centaurs and lapitas is a frequently represented theme in Greek temples and it symbolizes the triumph of civilization against barbarism. In modern times, painters like Rubens, L. Giordano, and A. Ricci dealt with this theme.
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