Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 101 D
Battle of Greeks against Greeks (Temple of Athena Nike, West Frieze). London.

Marble (Pentelic)
Frieze
H: ca. 45 cm; W (max.): 68 cm

West frieze, block k (right half). From the Acropolis at Athens. The slab had been reused in a Turkish fortification wall and was taken away by Lord Elgin in 1802. It was later given to the British Museum in London.
United Kingdom, London, British Museum, 422
High Classical, ca. 430-420 BC

Preservation:
The entire surface is heavily worn and abraded, all figures are missing limbs. The lower right corner of the slab, and the upper right corner with a large section of the right figure are missing.

Description:
Depicted are four figures, three facing to the right, one to the left. The first man is shown in right profile. He is nude, but has a mantle draped his left arm and shoulder. His right arm is raised and must have held a sword. In front of him a man has broken to the ground. He is shown from behind and has his left raised with his shield. Behind him, closer to the relief ground, is another figure, the left arm raised to strike down on the man in front of him. Furthest to the right is another man, clad in a short chiton and mantle, advancing forward.

Discussion:
This section shows a continuation of the battle. The victorious party storms to the right, a sole enemy is surrounded and overwhelmed. For a full discussion of the frieze see A 101a.

Bibliography:
A.H. Smith, A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum III (London 1904) 242-245 Catalogue entry with basic information.
C. Blümel, "Der Fries des Tempels der Athena Nike in der attischen Kunst des fünften Jahrhunderts vor Christus" (JdI 65/66 1950) 135-165 Detailed description of the frieze.
T. Hölscher, Griechische Historienbilder des 5. und 4. Jahrhunderts v. Chr. [Beiträge zur Archäologie 6] (Würzburg 1973) 91-98 Argues that the friezes show historic battles in the wake of Marathon.
F. Felten, Griechische Tektonische Friese archaischer und klassischer Zeit (Waldsassen 1984) 118-131 pls. 33-39; 47 Interprets the south frieze as a battle against Persians, and the west and north friezes as a unified composition showing the Trojan War as mythological paradigm for the Persian Wars.
H. Knell, Mythos und Polis. Bildprogramme griechischer Bauskulptur (Darmstadt 1990) 140-149 Good summary and bibliography of recent research on the frieze.
E. B. Harrison, "The Glories of the Athenians: Observations on the Program of the Frieze of the Temple of Athena Nike", in: D. Buitron-Oliver (ed.), The Interpretation of Architectural Sculpture in Greece and Rome (Washington 1997) 109-125 Argues that the south frieze represents Marathon and that other heroic (mythical) exploits of the Athenians are depicted on the north and west friezes.