A Portrait of the Horse in Antiquity

A Portrait of the Horse in Antiquity

A Virtual Art Gallery

From a time too long ago for collective human remembrance to this day, there has existed a close bond between most of humanity and the horse. Today, we ride for pleasure and will sometimed own our won animals if we can afford their upkeep. What young girl has not sat in class and drawn and dreamed of a magnificent beast that would be her companion through good times and bad, always willing at a moment's notice to carry her away on her back out of the reach of danger or a time of sad and painful trial such as only those young girls who have experienced the tragedy of growing up can speak? Or what boy has not dreamed of leading a cavalry charge, or, as the Imperial Legate or just a tribune, rode into the legionary camp bearing orders from the Emperor Himself giving him command of the legion that was sure to win glory and booty for himself and Rome? From the quiet wish for a couple to get away to the mountains for their fiftieth anniversary to the young, hotblooded vaquero itching to throw a rope around the neck of the rankest old bull in the herd, the horse has held fascination for the human throughout history

And so too, the variety of ways the horse is portrayed throughout history has proved a never - ending source of study, discussion, and enjoyment amongst students of art and collectors as well. This is nowhere more true than in the case of coins. An image of a horse or mounted rider can be made to neatly fill the square space that constitutes the actual canvas presented by a round coin on which an image can be rendered. There is even a little "fudge room" in the rim area for horse's tail, nose, or rider's head. The beast can stand on the line defining the exergue and fill the flan. How convenient for the artist!