East pediment of the Temple of Zeus

The pediment depicts the fundamental myth of the domination of Olympia, expressed in the dispute between Pelops and Oenomaus. According to legend, Oenomaus, king of Pisa, knew from a Delphic oracle that he would find death from the husband of his daughter Hippodameia. He thus invited the prospective suitors to a chariot race, on the condition that the winner would take Hippodameia as his wife, but the defeated would be killed. When Pelops appeared, Oenomaus had already killed thirteen suitors, since his unpaid horses, a gift from Ares, were always victorious. In the terrible chariot race that followed, Pelops, with the help of the charioteer Myrtilos and Hippodameia herself defeated Oenomaus. The ruthless king was killed when his chariot was dismantled.