Parthenon Frieze _ North XXXIII, 87-88

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This block reveals parts of three horsemen. Their heads are unfortunately missing. The surface of the block is severely damaged by micro-organisms, which is a characteristic of much of the North frieze procession. One rider wears body armor over a short tunic. The other rider wears a tunic belted at the waist. The horsemen in the procession on the North frieze are composed of a series of phalanxes overlapping one another in an uneven division. There is significant variation among the riders of the North frieze in terms of composition and dress. Some wear heavy drapery, including mantles and tunics, while others are almost naked. Some ride bareheaded, while others wear a distinctive type of cap. Metal reins, which have been lost, were inserted into drill-holes. Half of the North frieze is housed in the British Museum, while the other half is located in the Acropolis museum. The total length of the north frieze measures 58.70 meters. The scenes begin at the northwest corner of the opisthonaos as a continuation of the procession that has already begun on the west side, thus running from block N XLVII to block N I. Action develops gradually and accelerates from quiet preparation to a gallop. Ignoring the divisions of the blocks, the horsemen are depicted proceeding in groups of seven or eight, with their 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 among the most beautiful of the horsemen, as well as occasional depictions of men turning 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 during the Great Panathenaia, which commemorates the birthday of the goddess Athena. Numbering taken from I. Jenkins, The Parthenon Frieze, 1994. Frieze slabs are marked with Roman numerals, while people are identified using Arabic numerals.