10-30-2015, 08:47 AM
i am currently taking an art history class and we areĀ discussing the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius originating around 170 A.D. in our discussion the size of the horse was mentioned. the horse is proportionally smaller than than the rider, and my teacher said that the horse was from one statue while the rider was from another and was likely added to the horse latter. My opinion was that it was just a smaller horse. and i have found no evidence from any art related site say that the horse and rider were joined separately.
in my research of the statue i found out that the saddle is believed to be Persian. which would have been part of the roman empire at this time. and that in a separate relief Conquest and Clemency. is very similar to the statue. The statue is believed to have once had something under the horses raised hoof. Possibly one of the conquered barbarians from the Conquest and clemency relief.
My question is. what type of horse was commonly found in the roman army at this time. Would it be reasonable to say the Romans were using smaller war ponies. or could the horse he was riding been a native horse of the conquered Germanic tribes / Samaritan?
in my research of the statue i found out that the saddle is believed to be Persian. which would have been part of the roman empire at this time. and that in a separate relief Conquest and Clemency. is very similar to the statue. The statue is believed to have once had something under the horses raised hoof. Possibly one of the conquered barbarians from the Conquest and clemency relief.
My question is. what type of horse was commonly found in the roman army at this time. Would it be reasonable to say the Romans were using smaller war ponies. or could the horse he was riding been a native horse of the conquered Germanic tribes / Samaritan?