Parthenon Frieze _ West VII, 13-14

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Since its removal from the monument in 1993, the west frieze has been carefully stored at the Acropolis Museum, with blocks I and II displayed instead in the British Museum. The west frieze is comprised of sixteen impressive blocks averaging a length of 1.40 m., excluding blocks I and XVI, which measure only 0.60 m. due to their narrow widths as part of the north and south sides' western blocks, N XLVII and S I respectively. The frieze vividly depicts the preparation for the Panathenaic procession of horsemen in the Kerameikos area. Each block features one to three figures at most and up to two horses, with individuals standing still at intervals forming the axes of the entire composition along this side. Quiet scenes are interspersed with blocks showcasing action-packed scenes. A remarkable variety is also seen in the clothing worn by the horsemen, which some interpret as a way to distinguish between the 10 or 4 tribes of Attica. Some riders appear nude, while others wear short belted chitons, exomises, chlamyses, petasos, cuirasses, helmets, and other distinctive garb from various parts of Greece, such as Macedonia and Thrace.