Ancient Artifact - Armento Rider

Archaeological evidence, at Sparta, reveals that the city-state was not always focused on military strength.  During earlier times, craftsmen expertly used bronze and ivory to create beautiful objects.  Such items were later found at religious sites (where they had been given, as gifts, to the Spartans' gods).

This image is of a bronze horse and rider, likely made in (or near) Sparta (in Western Greece), between 560-550 BCE.   Known today as the "Armento Rider," it was reportedly rediscovered at Armento, Basilicata, in southern Italy.

Credits

Image online, courtesy the British Museum.