A sculpture showing a man holding his arms out extended to either side. On each side are several people who are bowing and kneeling.

Question

This sculpture is entitled, Apollo with Battling Lapiths and Centaurs. The sculpture displays the god Apollo in the center, with his hands held out in peace and confidence over the Greeks. What was happening in Greece at the time this was sculpted?
a.
Alexander the Great died unexpectedly in 323 BCE. As a result, the whole empire began to fall and wars broke out among the various Greek nations.
b.
The Greeks had faced many conflicts with the Persians who threatened their independence, however the strong armies and navies of the Greeks had triumphed over their enemies.
c.
Pericles dominated Athenian Politics and led Athens to a period of great wealth known as the “Golden Age”.
d.
The Greeks had recent come under new rule, after years of war and suffering at the hands of the Romans and Persians. It was a time of peace and prosperity, which they attributed to the Greek gods.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

c. Pericles dominated Athenian Politics and led Athens to a period of great wealth known as the “Golden Age.”

This period, particularly during the 5th century BCE, was marked by significant developments in art, culture, and democracy in Athens, with the construction of iconic structures like the Parthenon and the flourishing of philosophy, drama, and the arts. The sculpture of Apollo with Battling Lapiths and Centaurs, which reflects themes of peace, order, and the divine overseeing humanity, aligns with the spirit of this prosperous and culturally rich period in Athenian history.