| Collection: | Corinth | |
| Type: | Object | |
| Name: | S 568 | |
| Title: | MOUNTED AMAZON RIDING LEFT | |
| Category: | Sculpture | |
| Category Code: | S | |
| Object Number: | 568 | |
| Description: | The block depicts a mounted amazon riding left in attack position; her right arm is raised to strike, a shield is slung over her back, her left arm manages the reins. Both Amazon and the horse present a left profile view. The Amazon's head is particularly badly chipped and worn. She may have worn a crested helmet, judging by the nature of the break at the back of her head. None of her hair is preserved. Her eyes are set at medium depth beneath furrowed, slightly bulging brows. She stares straight at her opponent; the upper lid arches high, the lower curves gently; lids are similar. Features on the right side of the face are more sketchily rendered, The small mouth has the appearance of a smile. Traces of burning are heavy in this area. The cheeks are flat and smoothly carved. The chin appears heavy from any but a profile view, and seems to extend directly into the background. A strong chin line marks off the long, wide nck, which tops a heavy left shoulder and breast, which the typical arrangement of the Amazon's garb leaves bare. A bit of the diagonal border of the chitoniskos can be seen next to the horse's neck, since it hangs from her right shoulder to beneath her left arm (perhaps a left-handed Amazon?). Two borders can be seen at her back; the diagonal adds flourish with its wavy edge; the vertical, which should hang down her right side, has been pulled back for the spectator to see and thus gives the impression that the figure becomes progressively thicker between her left side and her right. A thin shield strap lies between the two borders. Her skirt, which hangs to the knee of her for forward left leg, spreads out over the horse's rump. Its folds, which are irregularly spaced, vary from incised and shallow carved folds to deeper, wind-swept folds near the hem where effective U-shaped patters are created, which add to the motion of the figure. Her right arm, carved in low relief, is raised ready to bring down her short sword, traces of which are visible. The left extends forward to hold the horse's reins and also grasps a second sword, the hild of which is next to her little finger. Her left leg, bent at the knee, is preserved to just below the top border of her leather boot. The calf below this is broken diagonally from the background, but the place of attachment remains. The Amazon carries the typical peltast, outside facing the viewer. The central extension has a wide knob on the end; the outer points are missing. The forward one was attached as a separate piece, either originally, or during a later repair, by 2 dowel holes. The horse, like the others in the Amazonomachy, is of stocky proportions, except for its small head, which looks like a modern day cartoon. Its mane just upward in stiff, slightly wavy tufts, separated into even strands. It holds the bit in its mouth, which is open and reveals a double row of teeth. The bridle extends across its nose, up the head, and across above the eyes. A second strap is wrapped around the top of its neck, while the Amazon holds a strap which originates under the jaw. The left eyes is deeply set, the surface above it chippeed and worn, and tendons are modelled beneath the eyes by grooves of varying depths. Fast movement is suggested by the position of the legs. Borth forelegs are raised high, the rear legs seem to strech back. The left foreleg is carved in high relief, its tendon modelled by a groove parallel to the bottom border. The break is level with the chest. A small part of the right foreleg is preserved in low relief in front of the chest. The haunch and withers are lightly modelled. The genirals are partially preserved above the Amazon's broken calf. The tail, broken diagonally at the base, rises in a gentle curve, which probably coincided with the line of the break of the background. | |
| Mythology: | Amazonomachy | |
| Material: | White, fine-grained marble | |
| Condition: | Fragment. 8 joining fragments. Amazon preserved except for top and side of head, lower legs; horse except for legs, tail. Restored: small areas in neck of horse and of Amazon. | |
| Manufacture: | Clawchisel on background, flat around figures; reverse, unknown. | |
| Dimensions Actual: | Th. relief ground 0.060, 0.108 H. Amazon Head, 0.099 W. Amazon Head, 0.135 H. Horse Head, 0.074 W. Horse Head | |
| Dimensions Preserved: | H. 0.570, W. ca. 0.510, L. top border 0.300 | |
| Period: | 2nd c. A.C. | |
| Chronology: | 2nd quarter of 2nd c. A.C. according to Corinth IX p.4-5 | |
| Bibliography: | Sturgeon, 1977, Corinth IX.2 p..83-84 A 14-2. | |
| Site: | Corinth | |
| City: | Ancient Corinth | |
| Country: | Greece | |
| References: | Image: bw 0374a Image: bw 0374b Notebook Page: NB 18, spread 42 (p. 75) Notebook Page: NB 18, spread 43 (p. 77) |
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