Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 086 D
Demeter and Ares (Slab 4); Parthenon Frieze East

Marble (Pentelic)
Frieze
W 135 cm

The slab belongs to the large section of the frieze removed by Lord Elgin in 1802 and was subsequently transferred to London.
United Kingdom, London, British Museum
High Classical, ca. 440-432 BC

Preservation:
The surface of the relief is worn and damaged along the upper rim. The heads of both figures are lost, only traces of them remain on the relief ground. The right arm of the left figure, and the lower left arm and hand of the figure on the right are chipped, as are their feet and the legs of their stools. Both ends of the attribute held by the left figure have broken off.

Description:
Depicted are two figures sitting on stools, facing to the left. The left figure is female, clad in a long, sleeveless chiton. Her right arm is bent in the elbow, the raised hand touches the chin. Her feet rest on the ground between the legs of a figure further to the left (see A 86c). In her lowered left she holds a long torch. Behind her sits a man, nude except for a himation draped around his waist. His left leg is stretched forward without touching the ground, while the right is bent in the knee, which he clasps with both hands. On his left ankle traces of a long staff-like object are preserved; it must have been continued in paint behind the body.

Discussion:
The two figures depicted belong to the assembly of the twelve Olympian gods from the centre of the east frieze. To the left sits Demeter, identified by her torch, her legs closely linked with those of Dionysos further to the left (A 86c), a reflection perhaps of the connection between the cults of both deities. To the right, in a relaxed pose of self-assured strength, is Ares, the god of war.

Bibliography:
F. Brommer, Der Parthenonfries (Mainz 1977) 110-112 pls. 163.1-2; 170.3-4; 171 A very detailed study of the Parthenon frieze including previous bibliography and ample photographic documentation.
I. Jenkins, The Parthenon Frieze (London 1994) 77 The latest official documentation of the frieze by the British Museum. Jenkins has renumbered some of the slabs and put them in a different order.
E. Berger and M. Gisler-Huwiler, Der Parthenon in Basel. Dokumentation zum Fries (Basel 1996) 152-155; 175 pls. 131-132 Detailed study of the Parthenon frieze based on the reconstruction in the Basel cast collection, including an extensive bibliography.