Parthenon Frieze _ West VI, 11-12

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Since its removal from the monument in 1993 , the west frieze has been safely stored at the Acropolis Museum, except for blocks I and II which are currently on display at the British Museum. The west frieze is made up of sixteen blocks averaging 1.40 meters in length, with block I and XVI being shorter due to their narrow sides on the north and south sides, numbered N XLVII and S I respectively. The west frieze vividly depicts the preparation for the Panathenaic procession, showcasing horsemen in the Kerameikos. Each frieze block features one to three figures at most, with as many as two horses, while individuals stand still at intervals, serving as axes of the entire composition on this side. Quiet scenes are alternated with those bearing action-packed scenes. The horsemen's clothing varies greatly, allowing some to interpret it as distinguishing between the 10 or 4 tribes of Attica. Some riders appear nude, while others wear a short belted chiton or exomis; still others don a chlamys and petasos, wide-brimmed hat; cuirass and helmet are also worn by some horsemen, along with other distinctive garb from various parts of Greece, including Macedonia or Thrace.