Part 34 (1/2)

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 Ches.h.i.+re, 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.