| The Acropolis Museum contains magnificent treasures | | | | Block 864 (the sixth block of the north frieze) depicts |
| which have survived to modern times as a testament | | | | three youths holding hydrias, while a fourth one leans |
| to the respect of the Athenians and their love of | | | | down to pick his up with both hands. This composition |
| beauty. Despite the fact that Lord Elgin took the lion's | | | | demonstrates the Classical ideal in all its majesty and is |
| share of the Parthenon's decoration, he also left | | | | imbued with piety and splendour. |
| fragments such as torsos from the pediment and | | | | Block 857 (second block from the northern f frieze) |
| sections of the frieze and the metopes. Thus, the | | | | has an exquisitely simple composition in which three |
| Acropolis Museum, has the most comprehensive | | | | youths dressed in himations lead two oxen to be |
| collection of Parthenon sculptures after the British | | | | sacrificed. Many have attributed this piece to Phidias. |
| Museum. | | | | Block 860 (fourth block from the northern frieze) |
| To begin with, almost all of the western side of the | | | | depicts a tender scenewith youths leading rams to be |
| frieze which depicts the beginning of the | | | | sacrificed. The animals seem to communicate with the |
| Panathenaean procession is still to be found on the | | | | youths and enjoy the caressing touch of their hands. |
| Parthenon. Two thirds of the friezes of the other sides | | | | The twenty-ninth block of the northern frieze (no. 863) |
| are in the British Museum, while the remaining third, | | | | is cunningly designed and is full of motion. Riders are |
| mainly from the northern side, is housed in the | | | | galloping towards the left while a master of |
| Acropolis Museum. | | | | ceremonies spreads his arms to direct the traffic of |
| Block number 859 (the 17th block from the northern | | | | the procession. With this motion, his himation slides off, |
| frieze) is one of the most beautiful. It depicts a hoplite | | | | leaving his upper torso bare. |
| apobates (an event in which the hoplite, or athlete, | | | | One of the most beautiful blocks of the east frieze |
| wearing his helmet and carrying a shield had to leap on | | | | (block 856) is attributed to Phidias' student, Alcmenes; it |
| and off his chariot as it was moving). The movement | | | | depicts the end of the Panathenaean procession and |
| of his body is intense and the rendering of his torso is | | | | the gods waiting for it to arrive. From the left to the |
| superb. | | | | right are Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, and Aphrodite with |
| Block 865 has six old, but well-preserved thalophoroi | | | | young Eros who is holding a parasol. The drapery of |
| (men bearing olive branches) walking slowly in the | | | | Artemis' himation is rendered masterfully and her face |
| procession. | | | | is a model of Classical beauty. |