LOCATED: Band of horizontal space located between the capital
above the columns of a building, and the cornice, usually used for some form of
decoration. It is also common for any structures immediately within a
temple (like the inner-cella in the Parthenon) to contain a frieze lining
part or all of the same type of space above the columns.
In this section of the frieze, the pace of the procession has accreted
to a gallop. The original builders intended this progressive acceleration to be
seen as one walked from the west end of the Parthenon to the east end. The
procession begins with the starting up of the horses and quickens until about
the middle on the way to the east end, where it starts to slow. Eventually,
the riders slow to a steady pace, rounding the corner and presenting the 12
gods with various gifts (including wine stored in amphorae
and live cattle). The Greek sculptor's convincing portrayal of speed is
achieved through the use of overlapping horses and billowing drapery. The
frenzied pace is carefully carved into stone through the use of various levels
of relief
to display an illusion of depth where various figures are placed; entangling
the surging muscles of the horses with the rapids of drapery that whip around
wildly in the air.