Figurine

CBS Register: clay statuette. Parthian rider on his horse. Hind legs and mouth broken off.

PBS XVI: Persian rider modelled by hand with the exception of the face which is stamped in a mold. The Aryan features are characteristic: thick eyebrows, large eyes, broad pointed nose, wide mouth between a pointed beard and a moustache. The rider wears a peaked cap with top turned over, flaps covering the ears and a tag down the back of the neck. The Parthian helmet represented on Parthian coins was apparently made of leather and dyed in purpose color, if we can trust painted terracottas from Cyprus. The man’s body and the horse’s neck are erect and elongated. The ride sits forward on the horse’s withers and seem to cling to the horses’ neck. His olegs and hands and the horse’ feet are rudimentary. More care has been given to the horse’s head with a long nose, a thick mane, a forelock and a top knot in many examples. Bands with rosettes and markings about the neck, head and nose, represent bridle and leather strappings with checker work and metal studs.