Parthenon Frieze _ South XXXI, 78-79

myminifactory

This is one of the most accomplished frieze blocks ever created. The shallow relief showcases no less than four horses, vividly depicted with tossing heads and flailing manes that create a dramatic scene. This dynamic energy is echoed in the billowing cloak and flying crest of the foot soldier riding behind. The south side of the frieze is preserved fragmentarily due to the tremendous catastrophe suffered by the Parthenon in 1687, which badly damaged the sculptured surface. As a result, the sequence from block XX on is uncertain. However, the Carrey drawings have enabled us to locate numerous existing fragments and understand the representations on many of the missing sections. The original length of the frieze along the south side was 58.70 meters, composed of forty-seven blocks, some of which are exhibited in the Acropolis Museum and others in the British Museum. The average width of each block is 1.22 meters. Despite being less skillful than the north frieze, the workmanship as a whole is impressive, with scenes that may be numbered among the masterpieces of the Parthenon (blocks III, X, XI, XXVI, XXXI and XLIV). The procession begins at the west corner and proceeds toward the right. Unlike the north frieze, which features a variety of poses, garments, and movements, the riders in this section move in a straight line, looking straight ahead, with a single exception on block V, rider 13. The varied rendition of the horses' trimmed manes reflects their speed of movement. As in the north frieze, the south side features three main sections: a) horsemen, b) chariots, and c) sacrificial procession. It is likely that the arrangement of the horsemen was according to tribe, following the political organization of the Athenian state. The variation seen in the garments supports this interpretation. The horsemen are divided into ten groups, each with six riders. The first group (2-7) wears a fox-hide cap, short chiton, chlamys, and boots. The second group (8-13) only wears chlamys. The third group (14-19) wears 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 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. The seventh group (38-43) wears a helmet of Athenian type, short chiton, chlamys, and boots. The eighth group (44-49) wears chlamys over short chiton and boots. The ninth group (50-55) is 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. Five blocks are missing altogether. Ten chariots are in the course, each taking up a single block. Some are standing still (XXVI), some starting (XXIX), and some racing full speed ahead (XXXI). The procession of the sacrifice follows, featuring thallophoroi with olive branches, musicians with citharas (kitharai), skaphephoroi with offering trays, and the animals with their herdsmen. 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 that took place during the Great Panathenaia, commemorating the birthday of the goddess Athena. Numbering taken from I. Jenkins' book "The Parthenon Frieze" in 1994.