A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities Part 34

Slab xxviii. is original; slabs xxix.-x.x.xi. are casts from the originals at Athens; No. 65 (on slab xxix.) is a marshal beckoning to the riders.

[Rightnote: x.x.xII.]

[Sidenote: 75.]

The fragment (in slab x.x.xii.) containing the head of No. 75 and the horse's head, having been discovered in 1850 in the collection of Sculptures at Marbury Hall in Cheshire, was presented to the Museum in 1850 by J. H. Smith Barry, Esq., the owner of that collection. A small fragment, cast from the original at Athens, and added to slab x.x.xiv., is not engraved by Michaelis.

[Rightnote: x.x.xV.]

[Sidenote: 85.]

The fragment (in slab x.x.xv.) which contains the head of No. 85 and of a horse, after having been in the possession of the Society of Dilettanti, pa.s.sed from that body to the Royal Academy, by whom it was presented to the British Museum in 1817.

[Rightnote: x.x.xVII.]

[Sidenote: 89.]

The fragment (in slab x.x.xvii.) containing the head of No. 89 and a horse's head, of which a plaster cast is adjusted to the marble, is now at Athens.

[Rightnote: x.x.xIX.]

[Sidenote: 97.]

The head of No. 97, on slab x.x.xix. was formerly in the Pourtales Collection, at the sale of which in 1865 it was purchased for the British Museum, and inserted in its place on the frieze.

[Rightnote: XLII.]

[Sidenote: 107.]

[Sidenote: 106.]

On the last slab of the north side, the procession is still in a state of preparation, so that this slab prepares a transition to the west side. In the foreground is a rider (No. 107), standing by his rearing horse, whom he holds by the rein with his right hand.

In the background beyond this group is a mounted figure (No. 106), so entirely concealed by the rearing horse in the foreground that the only evidence of his presence is his right hand advanced just beyond his horse's shoulder point.

[Sidenote: 109.]

[Sidenote: 110.]

To the right is a rider (No. 109) standing by his horse, and in the act of drawing down his chiton under his girdle in front, while a youthful attendant (No. 110) a.s.sists him by pulling it down behind, or perhaps by tying the lower girdle over which the folds were drawn. The attendant carries on his shoulder a folded chlamys, probably that of his master.

WEST FRIEZE OF THE PARTHENON.

[Sidenote: =326.=]

The west side of the frieze contains a continuation of the procession of the north side, but here the procession is mainly in course of preparation, and the scene may be supposed to be laid in the Cerameicos. In part, doubtless, on account of the character of the subject, in this part of the frieze there is less continuity of composition than elsewhere. The subjects are disconnected, and are usually on single slabs, and seldom carried over a joint. There is the same variety of dress and accoutrements here as among the riders of the north side; but there are more figures in armour (Nos. 3, 7, 11, 12, 18, 20). It may be noted, as showing that the west and north sides were produced by different hands or at different times, that on the west side the bridles were fixed to the heads of the horses by four rivet holes, not by two, as on the north.

Slabs i., ii. are originals brought by Lord Elgin. The remainder of this side (with the exception of No. 27) is cast from the original slabs, which are still in position on the temple.

Two sets of casts of this frieze are exhibited in parallel lines. The upper series is taken from moulds made from the original marble in 1872; the lower series from moulds made at Athens, at the time of Lord Elgin's mission. A comparison of these two sets of casts shows how much the frieze has suffered from exposure to weather during seventy years. As the frieze is still in position and unsheltered, it must be presumed that the decay of the originals continues.

[Rightnote: I.]

[Sidenote: 1.]

[Rightnote: II.]

[Sidenote: 2, 3.]

[Rightnote: III.]

[Sidenote: 4.]

[Sidenote: 6.]

[Sidenote: 5.]

[Rightnote: IV., V.]

[Sidenote: 7, 8, 9.]

[Rightnote: VI.]

[Sidenote: 10.]

[Sidenote: 11.]

The single figure (No. 1) at the north-west angle is evidently a herald or marshal directing the march of the cavalry. In like manner Hippias, or, according to Aristotle, Hipparchos, was in the outer Cerameicos, "arranging how each part of the Panathenaic procession ought to go forward," when he was attacked by Harmodios and Aristogeiton. (Thuc. vi., 57; Aristotle, [Greek: Ath. pol.]

ed. Kenyon, 18.) His right hand probably held a staff of office, as the bent fingers are not closed. This figure is repeated, in a plaster cast. Then follow two mounted figures (Nos. 2, 3); in the hair of No. 2 are holes in which probably a metal wreath was inserted. No. 4 raises both hands as if to open his horse's mouth for the insertion of the bit. Behind the horse stands a youth (No. 6), either the groom or attendant; his hands may have held a bridle. A bearded man (No. 5), probably a marshal, turns towards the youth as if addressing him. Then follow two more mounted figures (Nos. 7, 8), and a youth (No. 9), standing by his horse, and turning round to his mounted companion (No. 10), behind him.

Next comes a horseman (No. 11), distinguished from all the figures in the frieze by his richly decorated armour. On his head is a crested helmet, on the crown of which is in relief an eagle with outstretched neck. A hole a little behind the temple shows where a wreath has been inserted. His body is protected by a cuira.s.s, on the front of which is a Gorgon's head in relief, intended as a charm, to avert wounds from the most vital part; on the shoulder-straps are lions' heads, also in relief. Between the breast-plate and back-piece of the cuira.s.s is an interval at the sides, which is protected by flexible scale armour ([Greek: thorax lepidotos]). Below the girdle are flaps (_pteryges_) made of leather covered with metal, which at the upper ends are united to the girdle. Under the cuira.s.s appears a chiton without sleeves.

The horse of No. 11 is one of the few on the frieze that have all four legs off the ground. (Cf. north, 91, 97; west, 19; south, 14, 30.)

[Sidenote: 12.]

No. 12 is on foot, and stoops forward, looking towards the procession advancing from the right. His left foot is raised on a rock, and he appears from the action of his arms to be tying his boot.

[Rightnote: VII.]

[Sidenote: 13, 14.]

[Rightnote: VIII.]

[Sidenote: 15.]

[Rightnote: IX.-XI.]

[Sidenote: 16-21.]