Horsehead from Halikarnassos – British Museum, Bloomsbury, London, England

The Mausoleum of Halikarnassos (a Greek polis in modern-day Turkey) dates from about 350 BCE. A four-horse chariot group (quadriga) was positioned on the top of the stepped pyramid that crowned the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos. The entire group would have been about 6.5 metres in length and around 5 metres in height. These two fragments are the largest that survive. They form the head and fore-part of a horse with its original bronze bridle, and the hind-quarters probably of another horse.

The exact significance of this chariot group is uncertain. The quiet and dignified composition may reflect a funerary function. If the chariot was empty, it may have been an offering to the dead king. Though not common in ancient Greece, the practice of offering an empty chariot and horses was more frequent among the dynasts who ruled the outer limits of the ancient Greek world. It is perhaps more likely that the chariot was occupied, certainly by a charioteer and maybe even by Maussollos himself. If this were the case, the whole group would have represented the apotheosis (becoming a god) of Maussollos. The king is shown accompanied by Nike, the goddess of victory, rising up to the heavens. Alternatively, the chariot may have been driven by Apollo, or Helios, the god with whom some scholars believe Maussollos associated himself.

It represents the forepart of a horse belonging to the colossal chariot group which crowned the tomb. The horse stands quietly with its head held down and turned to its left. It conveys a sense of great energy and vitality shown by the bulging muscles, flaring nostrils, open mouth, prominent veins and bulbous right eye. The teeth are carved within the open mouth and the tongue is outlined. The horse’s mane runs along the neck on both sides and a lock of hair flops around the right eye. Around the body are two bands that are part of the harness which are joined at the crest by a collar. It is the regular type of harness for a four-horse chariot. The original bronze bridle and bit are still secured by dowels. The curving cheek-pieces are of the Corinthian type. The statue is reconstructed from several fragments. Traces of paint remain.