Parthenon Frieze _ North XXVI

myminifactory

The North frieze is divided into two equal halves, one residing in the British Museum and the other housed at the Acropolis museum. Measuring a total length of 58.70 meters, this magnificent artwork begins its narrative at the northwest corner of the opisthonaos, seamlessly continuing from the west side procession. From block N XLVII to block N I, the scene unfolds gradually, intensifying from calm preparation to an exhilarating gallop. Ignoring the block divisions, horsemen are depicted in groups of seven or eight, with their horses overlapping each other in a continuous flow. The only interruption comes from the marshal on block XXXIV. Despite the repetition, variety is achieved through different garments, stances, and gestures among the most exquisite horsemen, as well as occasional depictions of men turning to look back, effectively avoiding monotony. The Parthenon frieze forms a continuous band encircling the upper part of the cella within the outer colonnade. The narrative represents a procession towards the Acropolis that took place during the Great Panathenaia, honoring the birthday of goddess Athena. Numbering follows I. Jenkins' "The Parthenon Frieze," 1994. Frieze slabs are marked with Roman numerals, while individuals are denoted by Arabic numerals.