Parthenon Frieze _ South XI, 29-30-31 (acropolis)

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The south side of the frieze is preserved only fragmentarily due to the devastating damage caused by the explosion of 1687 that ravaged the Parthenon. This catastrophe has made it uncertain what the sequence should be from block XX onwards. Fortunately, the Carrey drawings provide valuable information about the missing sections and have helped us locate several existing fragments. The original length of the frieze on the south side was a substantial 58.70 m. It consisted of forty-seven blocks, with some displayed in the Acropolis Museum and others in the British Museum. Each block measures an average width of 1.22 m. Although the workmanship is noticeably less skilled than that of the north frieze, certain scenes are considered masterpieces of the Parthenon (blocks III, X, XI, XXVI, XXXI and XLIV). The procession begins at the west corner and proceeds to the right. Unlike the north frieze, which features a variety of poses, garments, and movements, this side shows riders moving in a straight line with their heads held high, except for one exception on block V, rider (13). The trimmed manes of the horses reflect their swift movement. As seen on the north side, the sections evident on the south are: a) horsemen, b) chariots, and c) sacrificial procession. It is likely that the arrangement of the horsemen was according to tribe, following the Athenian state's political organization. The variation in garments supports this interpretation, with ten groups of six riders each. The first group (2-7) wears a fox-hide cap, short chiton, chlamys, and boots; the second group (8-13) only chlamys; the third group (14-19) has horsemen wearing a short cuirass over a short chiton and boots; the fourth group (20-25) is clad in short chiton and chlamys; the fifth group (26-31) wears an anatomical cuirass over a short chiton and boots; the sixth group (32-37) has horsemen wearing a fox-skin cap, short chiton over which is a cuirass with flaps, and boots; the seventh group (38-43) wears a helmet of Athenian type, short chiton, chlamys, and boots; the eighth group (44-49) has horsemen clad in chlamys over short chiton and boots; the ninth group (50-55) is dressed in petasos, short chiton, chlamys, and boots; and the tenth group (56-61) comprises horsemen wearing short chiton and boots. Next comes the procession of chariots, which is very fragmentary due to the explosion of 1687 and preserved only in interrupted stretches. Five blocks are missing entirely. Ten chariots are visible, each taking up a single block. Some are standing still (XXVI), some are starting (XXIX), and some are racing full speed ahead (XXXI). Depicted on the following blocks is the procession of the sacrifice, with thallophoroi carrying olive branches, musicians playing citharas (kitharai), skaphephoroi bearing offering trays, and animals accompanied by their herdsmen. The frieze of the Parthenon forms a continuous band 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 the goddess Athena. Numbering taken from I. Jenkins, The Parthenon Frieze, 1994.