British Museum <London> / Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities [Editor]: The sculptures of the Parthenon: Elgin room (Band 1) (London, 1880)

which the Birth of Athene took place, which according to
Attic tradition was at sunrise. The figure of Helios is
represented emerging in his chariot from the waves,
which cover his body from the shoulders downwards.
Hence the name Hyperion has also been given to this
figure. The head is wanting, the neck has a forward
inclination corresponding with the action of the arms,
which are stretched out in front of the body, holding the
reins by which the upspringing horses of the Sun God
were guided and controlled. Of these horses the heads
and necks only are shown. The head of Helios had been
already broken away in Carrey's time, the wrist and
hand of the right arm, now wanting, are shown in his
drawing. The surface of the marble on the neck having
been protected from weather by the cornice retains its
original polish; the muscular exertion of the arms is
admirably indicated by the prominence of the veins
under the skin. At the back and between the arms are
sculptured small rippling waves to represent a calm sea
at sunrise. These waves are treated in the conventional
manner usual in representations of water in Greek art, and
their profile shown on the edge of the plinth approximates
very nearly to the well-known wave pattern called by the
ancients Kv^a, which so constantly recurs as an ornament.
The metal reins have been attached to the upper surface
of the plinth under the right fore-arm, and also under the
right hand, now lost; three dowel holes in this part of
the plinth served for their attachment. The waves were
probably distinguished by colour. It has been noted
by Michaelis that the angle in which this figure was
placed is the darkest spot in the Eastern pediment, and
that it is only fully illumined at the moment of sunrise.
(Mus. Marbles, vi., pi. 1; Michaelis, p. 173; Harrison,
No. 693 ; Caldesi, No. 3.)

[B — C.]—The chariot of Helios was represented by four