Parthenon Frieze _ West XIV, 26-27

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Since its removal from the monument in 1993 , the west frieze has been stored at the Acropolis Museum, with blocks I and II residing in the British Museum. The west frieze is comprised of sixteen blocks averaging 1.40 m. in length, while blocks I and XVI stand out as being only 0.60 m. long due to their narrow design on the north and south sides. These narrow blocks are actually the western ends of N XLVII and S I. The frieze showcases the preparations for the Panathenaic procession of horsemen in Kerameikos, with each block featuring one to three figures at most and up to two horses. Individuals standing still appear at intervals, serving as focal points that organize the entire composition on this side. Quiet scenes are interspersed with action-packed blocks, offering a visually engaging contrast. The attire of the horsemen also exhibits great diversity, allowing some interpreters to distinguish between the 10 or 4 tribes of Attica. Some riders appear nude, while others wear various garments such as short belted chitons or exomises, chlamyses and petasoi (wide-brimmed hats), cuirasses and helmets, or coarse cloth chitons and chlamyses from Macedonia or Thrace, accompanied by boots and fox-skin caps (alopekes). The horses' bridles and the riders' weapons are crafted in bronze.