134 
GALLERY OF ANTIQUITIES. 
[ELGIN 
seum at Paris,) which, alternately with the triglyphs, ornament the 
frieze of the entablature surmounting the colonnade : they represent the 
battle between the Centaurs and Lapithae, or rather between the Cen- 
taurs and Athenians, who under Theseus joined the Lapithae (a people 
of Thessaly) in this contest. In some of these sculptures the Centaurs 
are victorious, in others the Athenians have the advantage, while in 
others, again, the victory seems doubtful with respect to either of the 
combatants. These magnificent specimens of ancient art are executed 
with great spirit in alto-relievo ; they were seen originally at a height 
of nearly forty-four feet from the ground. (11, 2, 8, 12, 15, 6, 4, 5, 
13, 7, 1, 3, 9, 14, 10.) 
No. 16 a. Metope of the right angle of the north side of the temple, 
representing two females, one seated on a rock, the other standing. 
No. 16b. Metope from the left corner of the west fa 5 ade, repre- 
senting a horseman. 
No. 16 c. Cast of a metope ; Centaur bearing off a female. Re- 
cently discovered at Athens. 
The sculptures from 17 to 90 (inclusive) compose the exterior frieze 
of the cella of the Parthenon, which embellished the upper part of the 
walls within the colonnade at the height of the frieze of the pronaos, 
and which was continued in an uninterrupted series of sculpture entirely 
round the temple. It is in very low relief. The subject represents the 
sacred procession which took place at the great Panathensea, a festival 
which was celebrated every fifth year, at Athens, in honour of Minerva, 
the patroness of the city. The bas-reliefs which compose this frieze are 
arranged, as nearly as can be ascertained, in the order in which they 
were originally placed in the Parthenon ; several alterations having been 
made on their removal to their present situation, in consequence of a 
more careful examination and minute comparison of them with draw- 
ings made before their removal from the temple. Those on the prin- 
cipal front of the temple, namely the east, commence on the left hand 
of the visitor as he enters the room, then follow those of the north, and 
lastly those of the west and south. 
Nos. 17 24. That portion of the above-mentioned frieze which 
occupied the east end of the temple. On two of the slabs which com- 
pose this part of the frieze are represented divinities and deified heroes, 
seated ; namely, Castor and Pollux, Ceres and Triptolemus, Jupiter 
and Juno, Aesculapius and Hygeia. There was originally a third 
slab, which represented four other divinities, also seated, but it has dis- 
appeared for many years. On the right and left of these sacred cha- 
racters are trains of females with their faces directed to the gods, to 
whom they are carrying gifts : we see also directors or regulators of the 
procession, among whom are the officers whose duty it was to receive 
the presents that were offered. These females appear to have headed 
the procession, and to have been followed by the victims, charioteers, 
horsemen, &c., both on the north and south sides of the temple, which 
together formed a procession up to the same point in two separate 
columns. Nos. 20 and 23 are casts in plaster, presented by Sir Francis 
Chantrey. The original of the latter is in the Royal Museum at 
Paris. The upper parts of two of the figures in No. 21, the legs 
and right arm of the youthful figure in No. 22, and the two figures 
placed under the latter number, are also of plaster, from moulds made 
