Ancient Horse Figurines & Statues

In Graeco-Roman mythology and culture, the horse is said to have been created by Poseidon (Neptune) and to have been devoted to Hades (Pluto) and Ares (Mars). Horses were extremely important to the Romans – they would ride them into battle and use their flexibility for transportation, hunting, farming and chariot racing. They were also associated with the spoils of war, and considered to be a symbol of power, victory, honour, domination, and virility. In ancient Chinese culture, from the late Northern Wei period, depictions of horses became more naturalistic and richly decorated and this trend continued into the Tang dynasty (618 – 906 AD), reminiscent of styles then current in Central Asia and Persia. Horses were important during the Tang “golden age”, serving both as the reward for successful military expeditions and as the foundation of imperial stability.