Horsemen from the west frieze of the Parthenon

Greek, about 438-32 BC
Acropolis, Athens, Greece

This block was placed near the corner of the west frieze of the Parthenon, where it turned onto the north. The horsemen have been moving at some speed, but are now reining back so as not to appear to ride off the edge of the frieze. The horseman in front twists around to look back at his companion, and raises a hand (now missing) to his head. This gesture, repeated elsewhere in the frieze, is perhaps a signal. Although mounted riders can be seen here, much of the west frieze features horsemen getting ready for the cavalcade proper, shown on the long north and south sides of the temple.

B.F. Cook, The Elgin Marbles, 2nd edition (London, The British Museum Press, 1997)