Representing civic groups in Athens: the case of the Parthenon frieze · Even if civic groups had a very important role, their presence in figurative art is very difficult to recognize in an unambiguous way. Nonetheless, many scholars have raised the possibility that the Parthenon Frieze represents some Athenian civic divisions (namely: the Cleisthenic tribes, the pre-Cleisthenic ones, and the phratries). The relief offers a unique opportunity to think about how the polis could be represented through its divisions and, conversely, how much such divisions were representative of it. The extent to which these groups can be visually recognized is a matter of debate: there is no doubt about the presence of the Cleisthenic tribes on the south frieze, while the presence of the other above-mentioned institutions is more controversial. This short contribution is meant to analyze the frieze from this very specific point of view, taking into account some historical data about the functions and quantities of these groups in 5th century Athens.