Parthenon Frieze _ North XXXI, 81-82-83

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This block showcases three riders who slow their horses at the head of a cavalcade. Their rein hands and arms create an arc across the block. The lead rider wears a chlamys over his tunic, while the other two wear tunics belted at the waist. Horsemen on the North frieze are composed of phalanxes overlapping one another in unequal divisions. Riders on the North frieze exhibit great variation in composition and dress. Some are heavily draped in mantle and tunic, while others appear almost naked. Some ride bareheaded, while others wear a distinctive form of cap. Metal reins were inserted into drill-holes. Half of the North frieze is located at the British Museum, with the other half situated in the Acropolis museum. The total length of the north frieze measures 58.70 meters. Scenes begin at the northwest corner of the opisthonaos as a continuation of the procession that started on the west side, running from block N XLVII to block N I. Action develops gradually and accelerates from quiet preparation to a gallop. Ignoring block divisions, horsemen are depicted proceeding in groups of seven or eight, with horses partly overlapping each other. The continuous flow of horses and riders is interrupted only by the marshal on block XXXIV. Despite variety in garment, stance, and gesture of the most beautiful horsemen, along with occasional depictions of a man turning his head to look back, monotony is avoided. The frieze of the Parthenon forms a continuous band with scenes in low relief that encircles the upper part of the cella within the outer colonnade. The theme represented is the procession toward the Acropolis that took place during the Great Panathenaia, commemorating the birthday of goddess Athena. Numbering originates from I. Jenkins' book "The Parthenon Frieze" in 1994. Frieze slabs are marked with Roman numerals, and people are marked with Arabic numerals.