Roman Marble Sizable Fragment Of Horse and Rider

$1,073.52

A very unique Ancient Roman large marble fragment which shows the lower half of a horse and rider galloping right. This is an excellent carving, which even in its fragmentary condition displays a fine sense of movement. Item comes with a custom stand.

Date: Circa 2nd - 3rd Century AD
Provenance: Astarte gallery 1990's, Private London collection, London gallery 2016. Private Equestrian collection, London.
Condition: Excellent condition.

SOLD

SKU: F-79 Category: Tags: , ,

During the Roman Empire, horses were extremely important for battle, as well as for aspects of everyday life, such as transportation, hunting, farming, and chariot racing. The Romans associated the horse with the spoils of war, connecting it symbolically with power, victory, honour, domination, and virility. In Graeco-Roman mythology and culture, the horse was said to have been created by Poseidon (Neptune) and devoted to Hades (Pluto) and Ares (Mars). The Romans also believed the horse to be a symbol of the continuity of life, and would sacrifice a horse to the god Mars every October, keeping its tail through the winter as a sign of fertility and rebirth.

For more information about the meanings of animals in Roman art, see our relevant blog post: Animal Symbolism in Roman Art.

Weight 2100 g
Dimensions L 12 x H 16 cm
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