Parthenon Frieze _ South XLI, 122-125

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This group of cattle being led as victims for sacrifice completes the south frieze. Originally carved over seven blocks, there were ten in all, with two heifers bringing up the rear accompanied by minders in long mantles. The south side of the Parthenon's frieze is preserved fragmentarily and was badly damaged in the explosion of 1687. As a result, the sequence from block XX on is uncertain. However, Carrey drawings show representations on many missing sections, enabling us to locate several existing fragments. The original length of the south frieze along the temple's side was 58.70 meters and consisted of forty-seven blocks, some displayed in the Acropolis Museum and others in the British Museum. The average width of each block is 1.22 meters, with workmanship clearly less skilled than that of the north frieze. Nevertheless, some scenes may be considered among the Parthenon's masterpieces (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 section lacks such diversity. The riders move in a straight line, looking directly ahead, with one exception on block V. As in the north frieze, three sections are evident in the south: horsemen, chariots, and sacrificial processions. It is likely that the arrangement of horsemen was according to tribe, mirroring 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. In the third group (14-19), horsemen wear a short cuirass over a short chiton and boots. The fourth group (20-25) is clad in short chiton and chlamys; the fifth (26-31), anatomical cuirass over short chiton and boots. The sixth group (32-37) wears a fox-skin cap, short chiton over which is a cuirass with flaps, and boots. Those of the seventh group (38-43) wear an Athenian-type helmet, short chiton, chlamys, and boots; and those of the eighth group (44-49), chlamys over short chiton and boots. The riders of the ninth group (50-55) are clad in petasos, short chiton, chlamys, and boots. Finally, the tenth group comprises horsemen (56-61) wearing short chiton and boots. Next comes the procession of chariots, which is very fragmentary due to the 1687 explosion and preserved only in interrupted stretches. Five blocks are missing entirely, while ten chariots are depicted, each occupying a single block. Some are stationary (XXVI), others starting (XXIX), and some racing full speed ahead (XXXI). Depicted on the following blocks is the procession of the sacrifice, featuring thallophoroi with olive branches, musicians with citharas, skaphephoroi with offering trays, and animals accompanied by their herdsmen. The Parthenon's frieze forms a continuous band encircling the upper part of the cella within the outer colonnade. The theme represented is the procession toward the Acropolis during the Great Panathenaia, commemorating the birthday of goddess Athena. Block numbers are taken from I. Jenkins' "The Parthenon Frieze," 1994. Frieze slabs are marked in Roman numerals, while people are numbered in Arabic numerals.