<P> One interpretation is that it depicts an idealized version of the Panathenaic procession from the Dipylon Gate in the Kerameikos to the Acropolis . In this procession held every year, with a special procession taking place every four years, Athenians and foreigners were participating to honour the goddess Athena, offering sacrifices and a new peplos (dress woven by selected noble Athenian girls called ergastines). </P> <P> Joan Breton Connelly offers a mythological interpretation for the frieze, one that is in harmony with the rest of the temple's sculptural programme which shows Athenian genealogy through a series of succession myths set in the remote past . She identifies the central panel above the door of the Parthenon as the pre-battle sacrifice of the daughter of King Erechtheus, a sacrifice that ensured Athenian victory over Eumolpos and his Thracian army . The great procession marching toward the east end of the Parthenon shows the post-battle thanksgiving sacrifice of cattle and sheep, honey and water, followed by the triumphant army of Erechtheus returning from their victory . This represents the very first Panathenaia set in mythical times, the model on which historic Panathenaic processions was based . </P> <P> The traveller Pausanias, when he visited the Acropolis at the end of the 2nd century AD, only mentioned briefly the sculptures of the pediments (gable ends) of the temple, reserving the majority of his description for the gold and ivory statue of the goddess inside . </P> <P> The east pediment narrates the birth of Athena from the head of her father, Zeus . According to Greek mythology, Zeus gave birth to Athena, after a terrible headache prompted him to summon Hephaestus (the god of fire and the forge) for assistance . To alleviate the pain, he ordered Hephaestus to strike him with his forging hammer . Hephaestus obeyed, causing Zeus's head to split open and Athena to spring forth, clad in full armour . The sculptural arrangement depicts the moment of Athena's birth . The figures on the corners of the pediment depict the passage of time over the course of a full day . Tethrippa of Helios and Selene are located on the left and right corners of the pediment respectively . The horses of Helios's chariot are shown with livid expressions as they ascend into the sky at the start of the day; whereas the Selene's horses struggle to stay on the pediment scene as the day comes to an end . </P>

Who was the greek leader who commissioned the construction of the parthenon