Architectural Frieze

A frieze is a sculpture that runs along all four sides of the structure, a frieze may add to the visual and spiritual characteristics of a building through its physical characteristics or through the story it tells. It is sculpted, typically out of the material that constructs the building and is used as a statement or decorative element. The long central structure of the Parthenon, known as the Sekos is surrounded by the architectural frieze. It is suggested that inclusion of the frieze should show a change from the original design to a triglyph-metope frieze in that same location. A Doric style frieze in case would have accounted for a more canonical entablature above the amphiprostyle arrangement consistent of six Doric style columns that face the pronaos and opisthodomos. The frieze in this case is 3’5” tall and is tough to see from the ground because of its placement. On the north, west, and south sides it shows a procession of horsemen, musicians, sacrificial animals, and various figures with many ritual functions. On the East side, there is a scene of a child handing a folded cloth to an older man. One end of the East side shows seated gods and goddesses attending, and the other depicts two girls carrying an unknown object.

Segment of the Architectural Frieze of the Parthenon