The Panathenaic Procession was part of a festival in honor of Athena known as the Panathenaea that was held every year in acnient Athens. The procession was held on the last day of the festival, and involved the ritual bringing of a new peplos, or cloak, to the ceremonial statue of Athena. Every fourth year, during the Grand Panathenaea, a giant peplos was presented to Athena inside the Parthenon. every other year, the procession culminated with the presentation of a peplos to the Athena statue inside the Erechtheum.
The procession began at the Dipylon Gate, and travelled through the Agora to the Acropolis. The women of Athens were able to perform important functions during this time, including weaving and delivering the new peplos on the wooden Athena in the Erechtheum, and every fourth year, a larger peplos on the Athena in the Parthenon.
The Panathenaic Procession is depicted on the sculptural frieze of the Parthenon.
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