Ergastines Panel

This is a fragment of the east frieze of the Parthenon. The frieze which ran 160 metres along the entire perimeter of the Parthenon featured more than 360 figures participating in the procession and festivities organised every four years in honour of Athena during the Panathenaic games. The Athenians would ascend the Acropolis to offer the goddess a sacred peplos, woven by young women known as the Ergastines (workers). The east façade depicted the procession of the women and the presentation of the peplos (tunic) before Athenian heroes and the assembly of the gods. This panel shows six young women bringing instruments used in worship: a basket of barley with a sacrificial knife, a phiale (cup) and an incense burner.