In this part of the frieze there is great variety in the costumes
and accoutrements of the horsemen. Crested helmets are worn by
Nos. 59, 62; flexible leather caps by Nos. 84, 93, 96; a taenia
by No. 97, and a petasos by No. 105. Some figures wear high boots
with flaps at the knee as Nos. 98, 103, &c., while others wear
boots without flaps as Nos. 90, 91, 92; a few have bare feet,
as Nos. 72, 87, 89. The usual dress is a sleeveless chiton and a
cloak. Some riders, however, wear a chiton only, as Nos. 59, 60
63, 72, &c., and others wear a cloak only, as Nos. 64, 76, 79, 87,
94. It may be mentioned that, according to Theophrastus, it was a
mark of the man of small ambitions, when he took part in a cavalry
procession, to give all his garments to a slave to carry home
except only his cloak, in which he would display himself, walking
about the agora. The chiton may have either one girdle, as No. 72,
or two girdles, as Nos. 57, 59, &c. In a few instances it has long
sleeves, as in Nos. 73, 75, 80, 84, 97, 98, 109. Two riders wear
a cuirass, viz. Nos. 62, 92. The reins and bridles were in nearly
every instance of bronze, marked by rivet holes behind the horse's
ear, at his mouth and in the rider's hands. Marble reins are seen
in the right hands of Nos. 98, 103.
[Rightnote: XXIV.]
[Sidenote: 52.]
Slab xxiv. is shown, as has been already stated, to have contained
the first of the cavalry, by the figure of the apobates which has
been fitted to its left side. Neither this fragment nor that at
the upper right hand corner have been engraved by Michaelis.
[Rightnote: XXV.]
[Sidenote: 57.]
Slab xxv. was complete when drawn by Stuart. Only a fragment,
containing part of No. 57, now survives. This is not inserted, in
its place in the frieze, but is fixed beside the south door to the
Elgin Room.
[Rightnote: XXVI.]
[Rightnote: XXVII.-XXXI.]
Slab xxvi. is proved by Stuart's drawing to be continuous with the
fragmentary slab xxv. Between slabs xxvi. and xxxi. the order
is uncertain. The arrangement of plate 13 of Michaelis has been
followed. It may be assumed that a slab (xxvii.) is lost between
xxvi. and xxviii., which may have included the fragment No. 345,
_15_. Slab xxx. when complete may have fitted to xxix.; but, as it
has the joint preserved on the right, there can be no doubt that
it did not fit to No. xxxi. Between these two, therefore, another
slab may be supposed to be missing. The three slabs enumerated as
lost, viz. xx., xxvii., and the slab between xxx., xxxi., may be
supposed to have been about 12 feet long. The missing part of xxx.
may be 2 feet. Of the 25 ft. 10 in. of the frieze lost without
record 14 feet are thus accounted for; the remaining 11 ft. 10
in. may be due to the loss of two more slabs, containing a chariot
group, or to miscalculated proportions in Carrey's drawing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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