Did you know that most of the original ancient Greek sculptures where made out bronze? When you go to a museum to look at Greek sculpture, you are most likely looking at Roman copies (which were done in marble). Nearly all of the original Greek sculptures are "lost"; this includes sculptures that were melted, stolen, and at the bottom of the sea. In the background of this painting we see the Laocoon sculpture. Laocoon was a prophet who told the Trojans not to accept the large wooden horse left by the Athenians during the Trojan war. Laocoon knew the horse was full of Athenian soldiers. Athena, who was on Athens' side, sent sea serpents to kill Laocoon and his sons. The Trojans took the wooden horse into their gates, and the rest is history. 