Listen to an audio descrption written especially for blind and
partially sighted visitors
7 minutes, 2 seconds
Central scene of the east frieze of the Parthenon
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece, about 438-432
BC
The sacred robe of Athena held up by cult officials, and Athena
and Hephaistos
The procession pictured in the Ionic frieze of the Parthenon
culminates on the east side of the building. Above the porch
columns, at the approach to the great doorway, was placed an
unusually long block of stone carved with a scene showing a folded
cloth. This is thought to be the sacred robe or peplos of
Athena that was escorted to the Acropolis by the procession of the
Great Panathenaic Festival, held in Athens every four years. The
robe was escorted through the city on a ship that moved on wooden
rollers. Once on the Acropolis the peplos was dedicated to
the ancient olive wood statue of Athena Polias ('guardian of the
city').
Here, on the left, a bearded man, draped in the long tunic
typical of a priest performing a sacrifice, faces a child. Together
they hold the folded garment. To the right, Athena is seated on a
stool, while Hephaistos, the smith of the gods, turns towards
her.
I. Jenkins, The Parthenon Frieze (London, The British Museum Press, 1994)