Parthenon Project | Autumn 2022

East Frieze

The frieze on the east side of the Parthenon shows the arrival on the Acropolis of the procession formed by the people of Athens during the festival of the Panathenaia in honour of the protectress of the city, Athena.

Section 1: With a gesture, an atholetes or games steward provides the link between the north and east sides of the frieze. The procession continues.

Section 2: On the east side the two sections of the procession come together. Only here are women shown participating.

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Section 7: Hermes, the messenger-god, holds his petassos upon his knees. In his right hand was his herald’s staff, the kerykeion. Next to him, Dionysos, the god of wine, holds a thyrsos (a wooden staff wound round with ivy and vine leaves.)

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Section 10: Athena sits next to the peplos. On her knees she holds the aigis, an apotropaic goatskin; in her right hand is her spear. Next to her sits Hephaistos, god of fire and metallurgy, leaning on his club.

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