Idol of a Horse - Cyprus - 1100 BC - Symbol of Courage and Integrity- Miniature - Museum Reproduction - Ceramic Artifact

Item Specifics

Condition: New, Handmade in Greece.
Height: 10,5 cm - 4,1 inches
Width: 10 cm - 3,9 inches
Length: 3 cm - 1,2 inches
Weight: 85 g

In Greece, horses became important in life generally and especially in warfare, racing, traveling, and hunting. Horses were expensive to purchase and to maintain and, for these reasons, ownership was largely limited to the wealthier members of ancient communities. In fact, the second-highest property class in Athens was called the "hippeis," or "horse-owners" in the constitution of Solon. Horses therefore became symbols of high social status in ancient Greek society.
The importance of horses in Greek life is illustrated by the frequency of their depiction in art throughout all periods of Greek history. Horses are shown in ancient Greek vase-painting, as well as in large- and small-scale sculpture. They can be shown with or without riders and in a variety of situations, from pulling chariots to being tended in a stable. Horses often look small relative to humans in Greek art: while this can be the result of the artist attempting to fit horses and humans into the same composition, ancient Greek horses were, in fact, somewhat smaller than their modern counterparts. The Greeks believed that horses were created by Poseidon, god of the sea.