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Horseman riding toward altar, Ashmolean Museum G1140. (Courtesy of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford)
Horseman Riding toward Altar
Report 2: Sculpture from Sardis: The Finds through 1975
(1978)
Cat. 253
- Date
- Hellenistic
- Museum
- Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, G1140
- Museum Inventory No.
- G1140
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- Ashmolean G1140
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Stele, Animal, Human Figure
- Site
- Sardis
- Findspot
- "Dr. Magrath, Provost of Queen's, picked it up in a field at Sardis one day about 1880 when he was visiting the ruins under the guidance of G. Dennis, then H.B.M. Consul at Smyrna" (Sardis VII, 98).
- Description
- The horseman, according to Buckler and Robinson, has a crescent behind his shoulders and therefore represents Mên (ibid.). He wears a short belted tunic with a few minimal diagonal folds. In his r. hand he may hold a short stick. The beginning of the horse's rein can be seen on the neck before the diagonal break. His l. front foot was raised. The altar has a simple molding at top and bottom, and perhaps a small object on top (cf. Cat. 163 Fig. 311).
- Condition
Marble.
Fragmentary stele, preserving central part of horse with its rider and altar. Broken on all sides except perhaps base.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.225; W. 0.21; Th. 0.05.
- Comments
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Published: Sardis VII, 98, no. 96a, fig. 85. Mentioned in Robert, NIS, 32. On Mên, see J. Keil, Die Kulte Lydiens, 255-256. Also Hiesinger, Three Images, esp. p. 307f.; Robert, Nouvelles inscriptions de Sardes, 32ff.; Vermeule, Equestrian Zeus, 71ff., figs. 1, 3; Mendel, Musees Ottomans, 594f., no. 1383.
- Author
- NHR