A catalogue of sculpture in the Department of ... - Warburg Institute

NORTH FRIEZE OF PARTHENON. 169remains of the chariot groups still extant show that therewere at least nine of these. According to the calculationof Michaelis, that was the original number of chariots onthis frieze. All these chariots are drawn by four horses,liarmata tetJirijppa, or quadrigae; the charioteer standsin the chariot, and isaccompanied by the apobates, whois armed with a helmet and Argolic buckler, and is representedin the act of stepping down from the chariot orstanding behind it. Each quadriga is accompanied by amarshal, pompeus. The vigour and animation of thechariot groups form a marked contrast with the groupsthat immediately precede them. The transition from therapid motion of the chariots to the quietude of theThallophori is skilfully eifected by a chariot seen inrapid motion but in the act of being suddenly checked31. by the marshal (No. 31), who is represented eagerlypressing back the plunging horses of the chariot whichfollows on the next slab. In the haste of his movementhe has nearly thrown off his mantle, holding it fromslipping further with his right hand on his right thigh.The original of this slab was found at Athens probablyabout 1834.32. On the slab next on the right (xii.) is the hind quarter XII.of one of the horses, cut off at the joint. At the side ofthe chariot is a marshal (No. 32), his face turned, andhis right arm extended towards the procession foUow-33. ing on the right. The charioteer (No. 33), who wasmistaken for a Victory by Visconti and others, but whosofigure is certainly not female, differs in costume from theothers in this frieze. He wears a long chiton, over whichis a diploidion reaching to the hips. The breast is crosseddiagonally by two bands. As a part of the hair is on afragment known tohave been missing before the timeof Stuart, his drawing of the figure is proved to bountrustworthy.