Parthenon Plaque Cloaked Horseman

The original sculpture was a corner of one of the slabs of the north frieze of the Parthenon at Athens. This temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, was built on a terraced site at the highest point of the Acropolis between 447 and 438 BC. It wasrichly decorated with sculpture, including 92 square panels (metopes) in high relief around the outside and two groups of free-standing figures in the gables (pediments) at either end. The frieze, which was carved in low relief, was a little over ametre high and about 160 metres long, and ran all round the building below the ceiling of the colonnade. The subject of the frieze is the procession that escorted a new robe brought to the statue of Athena every fourth year at the Panathenaicfestival, the celebration of the birthday of the goddess. About half of the frieze was taken up by the cavalry that brought up the rear of the procession. A coincidence in the number of participants supports the suggestion that the riders represent thosewh