Commentary Prepared by Dr. Julia Lenaghan, Ashmolean Museum

A 102 D
Battle between Greeks and Persians (Temple of Athena Nike, South Frieze). London.

Marble (Pentelic)
Frieze
H: ca. 45 cm; W (max.): 133 cm

South frieze, block g (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, 424
High Classical, ca. 430-420 BC

Preservation:
The entire surface is heavily worn and abraded, all figures are missing limbs. The upper right corner of the slab has broken off.

Description:
Depicted are five figures, one of them on horseback. To the left is a nude warrior armed with a hoplite shield and helmet, a cloak fastened around his neck and flowing behind him. He steps over the body of a bearded man in oriental dress lying on the ground before him, and moves forward to the right. Facing this figure is another bearded man in oriental costume mounted on a rearing horse, his right raised and aiming a spear at his opponent, aquiver strapped to his side. He is followed by a frontally depicted man in similar dress, who in turn is pursued by a figure further to the right carrying a round hoplite shield.

Discussion:
A small group of Persians is rounded up by Greek fighters in this section of the frieze. To the left a warrior in heroic pose advances over the body of a slain enemy, ready to charge a lone horseman, Another Greek drives a retreating Persian towards the centre. For the south frieze cf. A 102a, for the temple in general 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.
E. B. Harrison, "The South Frieze of the Nike Temple and the Marathon Painting in the Painted Stoa" (AJA 76 1972) 353-378 pls. 73-78 Points out similarities between the frieze and Pausanias’ description of the painting of the Marathon battle by Polygnotus, and argues that the same battle is depicted.
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) 113-131 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.