Phidias was the main sculptor responsible for the Parthenon’s decorative sculptures. He worked under the general supervision of the building project and coordinated the extraordinary program of pediments, metopes, and the interior frieze.
Phidias was one of the most celebrated sculptors of Classical Greece. He is also associated with the colossal chryselephantine statue of Athena Parthenos that once stood inside the temple, as well as the monumental statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. His role at the Parthenon was not necessarily that of the sole person carving every figure; rather, he directed a large workshop of sculptors and craftsmen.
The Parthenon’s decoration combines Doric and Ionic features. Its 92 metopes were carved in high relief, while the continuous frieze around the inner chamber used an Ionic-style arrangement. Many sculptures were brightly painted originally, even though the bare marble appearance familiar today can suggest otherwise. Later damage, especially the 1687 explosion, destroyed or scattered much of the sculptural program.