Parthenon Project | Autumn 2022

North Frieze

This frieze is divided as it resides partly in the British Museum and partly in the Acropolis museum. The scenes begin at the northwest corner as a continuation of the procession which started on the west side. The action develops gradually and from quiet preparation accelerates to a gallop which is mirrored in the activity of the subjects within the artwork. Even though they may have taken place at a another time or place, these scenes are said to represent activities that were part of the festival of the Panathenaia. The North Frieze was impacted by the damage done to the Parthenon by the Venetians but we can still see remains of the pieces that were lost as they continue to exist in the form of drawings and sketches. This page incorporates those drawings alongside the remaining marbles.

Fragment 1: The northeast block has been lost so it remains in the form of a drawing.

Fragment 2:

Fragment 3:

Fragment 4:

Fragment 5:

Fragment 6: Musicians are featured in this fragment. There are four flutists and four cithara players.

Fragment 7:

Fragment 8:

Fragment 9:

Fragment 10:

Fragment 11:

Fragment 12:

Fragment 13: There is a fragment missing that would have shown a scene of horseman.

Fragment 14:

Fragment 15:

Fragment 16:

Fragment 17: Of the block in the middle, the only part preserved is part of a rider and his tunic.

Fragment 18:

Fragment 19:

Fragment 20:

Fragment 21:

Fragment 22:

Fragment 23:

Fragment 24:

Fragment 25: This scene seems to echo the beginning of the frieze, especially the first Western block. It is a continuation of the preparation for the procession as the men are yet to mount their horses.

The full North Frieze in a side-by-side format can be accessed here.