<P> Only a very small number of the sculptures remain in situ; most of the surviving sculptures are today (controversially) in the British Museum in London as the Elgin Marbles, and the Athens Acropolis Museum, but a few pieces are also in the Louvre, and museums in Rome, Vienna and Palermo . </P> <P> The frieze of the Parthenon's entablature contained ninety - two metopes, fourteen each on the east and west sides, thirty - two each on the north and south sides . They were carved in high relief, a practice employed until then only in treasuries (buildings used to keep votive gifts to the gods). According to the building records, the metope sculptures date to the years 446--440 BC . The metopes of the east side of the Parthenon, above the main entrance, depict the Gigantomachy (the mythical battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants). The metopes of the west end show the Amazonomachy (the mythical battle of the Athenians against the Amazons). The metopes of the south side show the Thessalian Centauromachy (battle of the Lapiths aided by Theseus against the half - man, half - horse Centaurs). Metopes 13--21 are missing, but drawings from 1674 attributed to Jaques Carrey indicate a series of humans; these have been variously interpreted as scenes from the Lapith wedding, scenes from the early history of Athens and various myths . On the north side of the Parthenon, the metopes are poorly preserved, but the subject seems to be the sack of Troy . </P> <P> The metopes present examples of the Severe Style in the anatomy of the figures' heads, in the limitation of the corporal movements to the contours and not to the muscles, and in the presence of pronounced veins in the figures of the Centauromachy . Several of the metopes still remain on the building, but, with the exception of those on the northern side, they are severely damaged . Some of them are located at the Acropolis Museum, others are in the British Museum, and one is at the Louvre museum . </P> <P> In March 2011, archaeologists announced that they had discovered five metopes of the Parthenon in the south wall of the Acropolis, which had been extended when the Acropolis was used as a fortress . According to Eleftherotypia daily, the archaeologists claimed the metopes had been placed there in the 18th century when the Acropolis wall was being repaired . The experts discovered the metopes while processing 2,250 photos with modern photographic methods, as the white Pentelic marble they are made of differed from the other stone of the wall . It was previously presumed that the missing metopes were destroyed during the Morosini explosion of the Parthenon in 1687 . </P>

Where did the stones come from to build the parthenon