Rossstirn - Prachtentfaltung einer siegesgewohnten Armee

Archäologische Staatssammlung München

Description

In the equestrian games of the mounted troops of the Roman border army, not only the soldiers themselves but also their horses carried splendidly designed armoured guards. The best quality pieces of this kind include the shaffrons from a depot find with numerous parts of parade armour from Eining, a fort at the Lower Bavarian Danube Limes. Among the outstandingly preserved finds, a richly decorated specimen is particularly noteworthy. It is made of chased bronze sheet and consists of a front piece with two cheek pieces to which semi-spherical eye protection decorated with a perforated sieve pattern is attached. The side protection was connected to the middle part by hinges, so that they could be flexibly adapted to the head shape of the respective horse. The sculpturally chased decoration follows the symbolism of strength and of a sense of the own invincibility popular in the Roman army. Hercules with his attributes of club and lion skin was the epitome of such power and invincibility. Above him, the eagle of Jupiter appears as a symbol of the supreme deity supporting the state. The lion under the Herculean figure may either refer to it or be generally understood as an expression of superiority. In the lower part of both cheek pieces, two very similarly worked busts face each other. On the left is Minerva, the goddess of war, on the right appears Virtus, the personification of bravery.

Author

Archäologische Staatssammlung München

Rights Statement Description

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0