Parthenon Frieze _ South XI, 29-31

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Block XI represents parts of three horsemen who wear identical attire to those on Block X: body armour over a short tunic, likely a cloak and boots. Their metal armours have two parts hinged at the sides and shaped like male torsos. The head of figure S30 is housed in the Acropolis Museum, Athens, while metal reins, now lost, were inserted into drill-holes. Despite being uniform in style, the horsemen on Block XI differ from those on Block X, possibly carved by different hands. The south side of the frieze is preserved in fragments and was severely damaged in the 1687 explosion that ravaged the Parthenon. Consequently, the sequence from block XX onwards is uncertain. However, the Carrey drawings have enabled us to locate many existing fragments and reconstruct the missing sections. Originally, the south frieze spanned 58.70 meters, consisting of forty-seven blocks, some displayed in the Acropolis Museum and others in the British Museum. Each block averages 1.22 meters in width, with a clear decline in skillful workmanship compared to the north frieze, although scenes like those on blocks III, X, XI, XXVI, XXXI, and XLIV are considered masterpieces. The procession begins at the west corner and moves rightward, featuring riders in straight lines with single exceptions on block V, rider 13. The varied depiction of horses' trimmed manes reflects their speed. The south frieze sections comprise a) horsemen, b) chariots, and c) sacrificial processions. It is likely that the horsemen were arranged according to tribe, reflecting the Athenian state's political organisation. This interpretation is supported by the variation in garments among 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; and so on, with different attire for each group. The horsemen's attire follows: Group 1, fox-hide cap, short chiton, chlamys, and boots; Group 2, chlamys; Group 3, short cuirass over a short tunic and boots; Group 4, short chiton and chlamys; Group 5, anatomical cuirass over a short tunic and boots; Group 6, fox-skin cap, short chiton, cuirass with flaps, and boots; Group 7, helmet of Athenian type, short chiton, chlamys, and boots; Group 8, chlamys over a short tunic and boots; Group 9, petasos, short chiton, chlamys, and boots; and Group 10, short chiton and boots. Following the horsemen is the procession of chariots, severely damaged in the explosion and preserved only in interrupted stretches. Five blocks are missing entirely, with ten chariots in the course, each occupying a single block. Some stand still (XXVI), some start (XXIX), and others speed ahead (XXXI). The section that follows depicts the sacrificial procession, featuring thallophoroi with olive branches, musicians with citharas, skaphephoroi with offering trays, and animals accompanied by their herdsmen. The Parthenon frieze forms a continuous band of 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 goddess Athena.