"The Horse in Antiquity" exhibition at Phoenix Ancient Art NY

The Horse in Antiquity

The long relationship between humankind and the horse began in the Neolithic Period when it was domesticated in the region of the Ukrainian steppes. Known in Mesopotamia during the third millennium B.C., the horse was introduced into Greece about 2000 B.C., at the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age. Representations of horse-drawn chariots are evident in the art of Mycenae, and the remains of horses were found in abundance at archaeological levels of the same period at Troy. In the first millennium B.C. the Geometric art of Greece and the epics of Homer suggest that horses continued to be an integral part of warfare, chariots being used to transport armored men. Horses quickly became an essential part of life in antiquity, and not only played an active role for warfare and transportation, but also in athletic contests and games that are a distinctive aspect of Greek society. Subsequently, Greek and Roman art and literature demonstrate the widespread use of horses for racing and hunting. As prestigious pleasure vehicles, horses were used mainly by both the Greeks and Romans for riding, while mules did the heavy work of plowing fields and pulling carts.

The horse has long been a symbol of social rank and wealth in the Mediterranean region and beyond, in the lands of Asia, Europe, and northern Africa. Among the diverse cultures of these regions social status was determined to a large degree by an individual's ability to own and maintain a horse. Throughout history social rank has often been defined in terms of those capabilities: the hippeis (cavalry) in Greece, the equites in Rome, or the chevaliers and knights of Medieval Europe. Important in life, aristocratic associations with such a high-maintenance animal was also reflected in objects accompanying the deceased into the next world. For the burial of particular individuals possessing great wealth or social importance, horses themselves were sometimes sacrificed and entombed with their owner.

The works of art in this exhibition testify to the lasting importance the horse has held for many cultures, and this animal still captivates us in the modern era where it remains ubiquitous. Whether playing a central role in a theatrical production, such as Equus, supporting gentrified equestrians in pastoral settings, racing around a track, or carrying law enforcement officers through our city streets, our fascination with this magnificent animal -- in myth and reality -- is with us for a long time to come.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Hicham Aboutaam
• Ali Aboutaam
• Phoenix Ancient Art
• The Horse in Antiquity
• Antiquities
• show
• exhibition
• reception
• New York Gallery
• 47 East 66th Street
• New York
• NY