Part 32 (1/2)

At the head of the procession on the north side we meet a troop of cows and sheep, led by an escort. Each cow is led by cords held by two youths, one on each side; each sheep is led by one boy. There are some grounds for the conjecture that the Athenian colonists contributed each a cow and two sheep to the festival, while the Athenians are not known to have sacrificed anything except cows. It is therefore presumed that the victims on this side of the frieze, on which alone sheep are represented, are some of the colonial offerings; and in that case the men by whom the victims are conducted would be the Theori sent by the Colonies.

[Rightnote: I.]

Slab i. (see Plate vii.) was complete in the time of Carrey, and partly extant in the time of Stuart. It contains the first cow, led by two youths, who are standing still, and the head and shoulders of the second cow.

[Rightnote: II.]

[Sidenote: 1, 2.]

[Sidenote: 3, 4.]

Nos. 1 and 2 walk on each side of the second cow, which is going quietly, as is shown by the way in which the youths are closely wrapped up in their himatia. The rope by which the beast is led was probably painted on the marble. The third cow is restive, and only restrained with difficulty by Nos. 3 and 4. Here also the rope was probably painted.

This slab was discovered in 1833, beneath its original position on the Parthenon.

[Rightnote: III.]

[Sidenote: 5, 6.]

Of slab iii. only fragments remain. As drawn by Carrey, it contains the figure of No. 4 (cf. Plate vii., and No. 345, _3_), vigorously holding back his cow, and a fourth cow, quietly led by two youths (Nos. 5, 6). For economy of s.p.a.ce this slab is compressed in the British Museum to about two-thirds of its proper length. A cast from a head, which, perhaps, is that of No. 4, is placed at the corner of the slab (Michaelis, plate 13, xxvii. C.).

The drapery seen on a fragment with the fore-legs of a cow belongs to No. 5, who leads the third cow. No. 6 is made up of six pieces, of which Michaelis had identified the feet of the figure, and part of the fore-legs of the cow. For its hind-legs, see his plate 13, xxvii. D. The originals of all these fragments are at Athens.

[Rightnote: IV.]

[Sidenote: 7-9.]

[Sidenote: 10.]

Slab iv. contains parts of three figures, Nos. 7-9, who conduct three horned sheep. Of the first figure (No. 7) a part of the mantle is now left, and perhaps also the head (cf. Plate vii., and No. 345, _4_). In Carrey's time the head and shoulders were still extant. At the joint between this slab and the next there is a marshal (No. 10), who turns to the division of the procession approaching. Slab iv. was discovered in 1840.

[Rightnote: V.]

[Sidenote: 11.]

When drawn by Carrey and Stuart, the next group in the procession consisted of three figures, of which one only (No. 11) is now extant. These figures carry on their shoulders oblong rectangular trays, not unlike a butcher's tray in form. These trays have been identified with the skaphae, or boat-shaped dishes which were carried in the Panathenaic procession, and which contained offerings of cakes. If we may trust Stuart's engraving, the tray of one of the two figures which have now disappeared contained fruits or cakes. These trays were made of silver or bronze.

Skaphae of bronze are mentioned in one of the inventories of the treasures, deposited in the Parthenon. The Metoiks, whose duty it was to carry these trays, were hence called Scaphephori. Their place in the procession would naturally be immediately after the victims led for sacrifice.

[Rightnote: VI.]

[Sidenote: 12-14.]

[Sidenote: 15.]

[Sidenote: 16.]

Slab vi. contains five male figures. Three (Nos. 12-14) carry vases on their shoulders; a fourth (No. 15) stoops to raise from the ground a similar vase, which is singularly misinterpreted in Carrey's drawing as a lamb. The vase resembles in form the three-handled water-pitcher, hydria or calpis, which was in use in the period of Pheidias, but two handles only are shown in the sculpture; the third handle, which was attached to the neck midway between the other two, is not seen, except, perhaps, on the vase of No. 15. Michaelis supposes that the vases here represented on the frieze contained the wine used in the Panathenaic sacrifice, and that these figures may be the Spondophori, who are mentioned by Pollux (i. 35). On the right of this slab are the arms, flute, and drapery of the first of the four flute-players drawn by Carrey. This slab was found in 1833, inside the peristyle of the Parthenon.

[Rightnote: VII.]

The persons bringing objects connected with the sacrifice are immediately followed by a band of musicians, consisting of four flute-players and four lyre-players, or citharists, all playing on their instruments. The musicians, as is usual, wear long chitons and ample mantles. Of slab vii. only two small fragments remain.

See Plates vii., viii., and Nos. 345, _5_ and _6_.