42 Inches High x 55 Inches Wide x 3 Inches Deep
The Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, is an astounding example of Classical Greek architecture and art. It was built by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates while the supervisor, and also the artistic director, for the project was the sculptor Phidias. Situated on the Acropolis in Athens, the Parthenon, at its prime, was a temple of white marble with countless colorful sculptures. Today, it is partially in ruins. The frieze that surrounded the cella, or the interior structure, still exists, but is divided among many museums around the world. The Acropolis Museum and the British Museum hold the majority of the 115 blocks, which formed the 160 meter- (or 525 foot-) long frieze. The narrative is about the procession that took place on the final day of the festival that honored Athena, the Great Panathenaia.
In this panel, a rider tries to steady his horse by placing his foot against a rock. The man’s face in the original sculpture was lost due to exposure to the elements sometime between 1802 and 1872, when the earlier date produced a mold showing the face and the later date produced a mold without it. Fortunately, the earlier mold means the face has been preserved for study in casts. The Caproni cast features the preserved face as well.
Artist: Unknown
Museum: Acropolis Museum, Athens
Origin: The Parthenon – Western Frieze, Athens
Time Period: Ancient Greek, 447-432 B.C.E.
1911 Catalog ID # – 7000 Slab VIII
Sources:
Choremi, A. “The Parthenon Frieze. Block W VIII.” The Parthenon Frieze. English translation by M. Caskey. Ministry of Culture – Acropolis Restoration Service – First Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities – Department of Information and Education, and National Documentation Centre – National Hellenic Research Foundation, 2009, http://repository.parthenonfrieze.gr/frieze/handle/10442/wviii.
“The Frieze.” Acropolis Museum, http:///books?id=t02qLAT21AIC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false.
“Parthenon.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon#Architecture.