Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 084
Elders (Slab 10); Parthenon Frieze North

Marble (Pentelic)
Frieze
W (pres.) 119.3 cm

The slab was not drawn by Carrey, who instead notes a window in its place. It is therefore likely that by Carrey’s time it was not any more on the building, and rediscovered only much later on the ground.
Greece, Athens, Acropolis Museum, 865
High Classical, ca. 440-432 BC

Preservation:
On both sides of the slab the original borders are preserved. Both upper corners and a large section of the lower left corner have broken away (the upper right corner is restored on the cast; a large fragment of the original left corner is preserved in Athens, but not included here). The faces of all figures are heavily worn, the heads and feet of the two figures on the right partly broken off. The lower part of the himation of the left figure together with the right hand of the man standing next to him is heavily abraded.

Description:
The slab shows a row of six (a small section of a seventh figure, continued on the next slab, is visible on the extreme left) mature, bearded men dressed in himatia. They occupy different planes of the relief ground, but at least four of them march in a file. The two men on the left wear a wreath in their hair, which the first seems to adjust with both hands. The long hair of the third figure from the right is wound up in a plait. At least two of the men wear sandals.

Discussion:
The men depicted on this slab belong to a group of elders marching in front of the chariots. They are represented as mature, senior citizens in typical dress. The details of their pose, drapery, and coiffures are skilfully varied, offering a range of different views. The two men on the right have turned back, glancing at the advancing chariot on the next slab that comes to a halt immediately behind. On the north frieze in general see A 81.

Bibliography:
F. Brommer, Der Parthenonfries (Mainz 1977) 33 pls. 64-65 A very detailed study of the Parthenon frieze including previous bibliography and ample photographic documentation.
I. Jenkins, The Parthenon Frieze (London 1994) 87-88 The latest official documentation of the frieze by the British Museum. Jenkins has renumbered some of the slabs and put them in a different order.
E. Berger and M. Gisler-Huwiler, Der Parthenon in Basel. Dokumentation zum Fries (Basel 1996) 68-69 pl. 51 Detailed study of the Parthenon frieze based on the reconstruction in the Basel cast collection, including an extensive bibliography.