In the period 1802–1812 Lord Elgin had the Parthenon sculptures transported from Athens to London. From 1808 the frieze was exhibited in the Elgin home and from 1811 John Henning was granted access to measure and reproduce the frieze. It took him 12 years to complete.

The present cast is presumed to have been made from the Henning moulds - but in a later period and not by Henning as it is not signed.