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THE TWO FRIEZES OF THE PARTHENON

The temple of Parthenon, of Doric order, has two friezes of different style:
- an outdoor frieze of
Doric style (see previous pages)
- an indoor frieze of
Ionic style, very famous for it depicts the procession of the Panathenaea.
The Panathenaea are celebrations in honour of the goddess of the city, Athena. Every four years, these feasts were given extra glamour. (the grand Panathenaea). The Athenians used to organise a three day festival with athletic and musical competitions. On the fourth day, a long procession used to move along the sacred path, starting from Ceremica, through Agora and up the slopes of Acropolis (see map); young girls (the Ergastines) would carry “ the peplos”, in order to array the old wooden statue of Athena with. It was a sacred cloak, wowen by the “arrhephoroï”( little girls chosen among the high society of Athens). The frieze of Panathenaea was done according to the instructions of the most famous sculptor, Pheidias. These sculptures are considered as the greatest work of art of all times. Unfortunately, there are only a few slabs left on the west side of the Parthenon.(photo below and following ones). The others have been dispersed . Twenty of them are to be found in the museum of the Acropolis, one in the “Louvres” in Paris and the rest (most of them) in the British Museum (London).