Final answer:
Metope XXVII (27) from the Parthenon depicts a scene of a mythical battle between the Lapiths and Centaurs, symbolizing Greek triumph over the 'barbaric' Persians.
Step-by-step explanation:
Metope XXVII (27) is part of the sculpted decoration series from the Parthenon. These metopes, especially notable on the south flank of the temple, depict scenes of mythical battles between the Lapiths and the Centaurs. The battles represented in these metopes were not just simple mythical stories; they symbolized the Greeks' pride in their victory over the Persians, whom they associated with the 'monstrous' or barbaric creatures like the Centaurs depicted in the metopes.
The particular scene in metope 27, as part of this series, likely portrays a moment of intense struggle, where the human Lapiths are in mortal combat with the part-man, part-horse Centaurs. This mythological panel captures a dramatic narrative within the confines of a square space, a hallmark of the master sculptor Phidias's ability to convey story and emotion through the medium of marble carvings.