Parthenon Frieze _ NorthXLIV, 122-123-124

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The frieze portrays several horsemen, with one wearing a distinctive Thracian cap that billows behind him in the wind as he looks down thoughtfully. His companion rides bareheaded, gazing directly ahead, while the other two riders wear boots. Notably, this rider is barefooted, adding to the visual diversity of the scene. The horsemen on the North frieze are depicted in a series of overlapping phalanxes, with great variation in composition and attire. Some riders are heavily draped in mantle and tunic, while others appear almost naked. Metal reins, now lost, were once inserted into drill-holes. Half of the North frieze is housed at the British Museum, with the other half located 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 unfolds gradually, accelerating from quiet preparation to a gallop. Ignoring block divisions, horsemen are depicted 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. Variety is maintained through diverse garments, stances, and gestures among the most beautiful horsemen, as well as occasional depictions of individuals turning their heads to look back. The Parthenon frieze forms a continuous band with low-relief scenes encircling 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 Athena.