At the west end of the south side begins one of the two processional files. It starts with a marshall, a teletarches or supervisor of the festival.
Then come sixty horsemen, probably arrayed in groups. The riders may well have been marshalled by tribe, according to the political organization of the Athenian state.
Indeed the variety of attire seen on the horsemen appears to illustrate this. From their clothing alone, ten groups of six are evident.
The horsemen of the first group wear the alopekis, or fox-skin hat, chitoniskos (short chiton), chlamys (cape), and boots.
The horsemen of the second group wear simply a chlamys. The first rider is turning to look back at those who follow.
The horsemen of the third group wear chitoniskos and boots.
The horsemen of the fourth group are clad in both chitoniskos and chlamys.
The horsemen of the fifth group wear a short thorax (cuirass) over the chitoniskos and boots.
The horsemen of the sixth group wear a cap with a tail, a thorax with flaps over the chitoniskos, and they too wear boots.
The horsemen of the seventh group are clad in chitoniskos, chlamys, and boots, and they wear helmets of the Athenian type.
The horsemen of the eighth group wear chitoniskos, cape, and boots.
The horsemen of the ninth group wear the petassos, or traveller's hat with a brim, chitoniskos, chlamys, and boots.
Block XXII has been lost.
Finally, the horsemen of the tenth group are clad in chitoniskos and boots.
Next follows the file of chariots, which the explosion of 1687 has left in a very fragmentary state. Five blocks with reliefs are missing altogether.
Ten chariots are taking part, each of which occupies a single block. There are chariots standing still, chariots starting off, and chariots at full speed.
Block XXX has been lost.
The chariot, with charioteer and hoplite with helmet and shield, is drawn by four horses. One can see the four heads of the galloping horses.
Next, on the succeeding blocks, comes the sacrificial procession. Included are the thallophoroi, elderly men who carry the olive branches, the thalloi.
Musicians with their kitharai also take part in the procession.
Block XXXVIII has been lost.
This little fragment is evidence that on the south side too, there were skaphephoroi carrying their offering vessels.
Ahead march the animals to be sacrificed. There is some doubt about the exact order of the blocks at this point.
Ten bulls prodded by three drivers each are next in line. There is great variety of composition. One bull has bolted, another tosses his head, a third bends down in his effort to escape.
