Parthenon Frieze _ West I, 1

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A marshal stands tall at the corner of the West frieze, his head turned firmly back towards the approaching riders. He wears a himation, a thick wool garment, which helps to create a strong vertical accent at a point where the composition might otherwise seem in danger of running off the edge of the frieze. This relief is Block XLVII from the North frieze and Block I on the West frieze of the Parthenon's foundation. His left arm is bent, his hand resting confidently on his hip, while his raised right hand holds a staff that was once painted. The sculptor who created this block does not seem to be one of those skilled craftsmen responsible for carving other surfaces of the west frieze, which are renowned for their exceptional workmanship. It appears this block was hastily carved at some later time when they were preparing blocks for the North frieze.\r\nThe Parthenon's frieze forms a continuous band with low-relief scenes that encircle the upper part of the cella within the outer colonnade. The theme represented is the procession towards the Acropolis, which took place during the Great Panathenaia, a commemoration of Athena's birthday.\r\nThe West frieze comprises sixteen blocks (counting corner Blocks I and XVI). It depicts horsemen in scenes preparing for cavalcades on the North and South friezes.