Charioteer and apobates competitor
| Collection: | Athens, Acropolis Museum |
| Title: | Base with Apobates Relief |
| Context: | From Athens, Acropolis |
| Findspot: | Found at Athens, Acropolis, West slope (in 1880) |
| Summary: | Apobates competition |
| Material: | Marble |
| Sculpture Type: | Statue base, relief-decorated |
| Category: | Separated fragments |
| Style: | Late Classical |
| Technique: | Low relief |
| Original or Copy: | Original |
| Date: | ca. 300 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. 0.41 m, W. 0.84 m |
| Scale: | Under life-size |
| Region: | Attica |
| Period: | Early Hellenistic |
Subject Description: Apobates competition showing four-horse chariot, charioteer and nude apobator with helmet and shield in profile view. The figure with armor jumped off a moving chariot and then back on, in imitation of an early technique of warfare long abandoned but preserved in contests. It was performed as part of the Panathenaic festival and as such was depicted in the course of the Parthenon frieze. The contests were held in the area of the Agora, where similar reliefs have been found. This relief decorates the base of a lost votive offering, presumably dedicated by a the winner of such a competition.
Form & Style: Late reflection of earlier composition and style. Folds of drapery of charioteer's chiton simplified to a few parallel ridges separating wide, flat areas.
Condition: Complete
Condition Description: Minimal damage
Material Description: Pentelic
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