Sassanian riding a horse facing backwards

[Alanus]

The Sassanian king riding backwards on the silver plate appears, in my barbaric judgement, to be the victim of Extreme Artistic License. Notice, also, he wears his sword on the right side (not historically correct) and it even hangs between his right leg and the body of the horse. Any horse with a scabbard jammed into it ribs would rightfully buck the rider to the ground, especially an idiot riding backwards. Plus anyone riding with a sword between his legs would castrate himself at full canter in two minutes, approximately, maybe a little less. (I'm not going to test the theory.)

Please click on photo.