Inventory number
Ακρ. 6454
Artist
Attic workshop
Category
Architectural sculpture
Period
Archaic Period
Date
525-500 BC
Dimensions
Height: 1.16 m
Width: 0.87 m
Material
Marble from Paros
Location
Archaic Acropolis Gallery
Found near the Propylaia in two parts that were pieced together. The hind portion of the body isn’t depicted. Instead the marble is vertically cut and the legs substituted by a support. The head slightly turns to the left and the mane is rendered with simple incisions.
According to the upper part of the forelegs the body weight was supported by the left leg, while the right was lightly bended. The drilled holes on the horse’s back, shoulders and chest were intended for the attachment of the added horse riding equipment.
The horse belongs to a sculptural composition along with the similar one Ακρ. 15244 and many theories regarding the two have been presented. Some scholars consider the composition as a dedication in the form of a chariot pulled by two horses (synoris) which was set up on the Acropolis to commemorate a victory.
Others believe that is was part of a quadriga from the decoration of a temple’s pediment, perhaps the Old Temple of Athena Polias. Still others connect the sculptural composition with the pediment of the Gigantomachy (Ακρ. 631 α, A-C) and presume that the chariot being pulled by these horses was carrying Zeus and maybe Herakles. Lastly, there are those researchers who think that the composition was made for the other pediment of the same temple, maybe constructed at a later date, when repairs were made.
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