\paperw3300 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 \fs22 The temple's sculptural decoration was conceived and designed by Phidias and required an immense creative effort. Arou
nd seventy artists and a huge group of craftsmen were involved in the undertaking. All the sculptures and reliefs were carved out of the same Pentelic marble from which the whole building was constructed. The metopes all depicted scenes of wrestling, sym
bolic of the victory of reason over chaos. On the outside of the naos, at the top, Phidias designed a continuous frieze, about 160 m in length, representing the solemn procession of virgins in honor of Athene. The birth of Athene from Zeus' head was repr
esented on the eastern pediment, while the western one depicted the dispute between Athene and Poseidon for possession of the Acropolis.\par
