merelygifted:

(via Horus on horseback | Louvre Museum | Paris)

This object was obviously designed as part of a window. The subject of the sculpture is highly original and reflects the blending of Egyptian and Greco-Roman traditions. A horseman, who is none other than the god Horus, is stabbing his spear into a crocodile, one animal that symbolized the god Set. This strange combat represents the victory of Good over Evil.

A fragment of a window

Egyptian deities were never portrayed on horseback. This representation, which dates from the fourth century CE, reflects the influence of Greco-Roman models and of the Christian symbolism of Good conquering Evil. The scene in question is complete, although the object itself is not: it was undoubtedly part of a window, of which only the left part remains, with a section of molded frame. Several of the components of the scene (the horse’s head and the crocodile’s mouth) are joined to the frame for both technical and artistic reasons, contributing, with the sculpted scrolls, to the liveliness of the scene.

Horus on horseback

The god Horus, a man with a hawk’s head, is dressed like a Roman soldier. He is portrayed in full profile, on a horse which is also in profile with its head turned full face. Horus is sitting on a saddle attached by a bellyband to his richly appointed mount. He is controlling his steed with his left hand and holding a spear in his right (the hand is missing). He is about to stab a crocodile, which is pinned between the horse’s forelegs and under his own left foot (which is not in its stirrup). The horse appears to be looking down at the crocodile, while the latter’s wide open eye reflects his sorry plight. The horse’s position and bearing, and the god’s calm assurance, contrast with the slumped body and hunched legs of the crocodile.

The precursor of St. George

According to Egyptian mythology, the god Set murdered his brother Osiris. Horus, the son of Osiris, avenged his father’s death by killing Set. The episode is depicted here with all the symbolism and freedom of expression proper to the Greco-Roman period. The iconography of the horseman overcoming Evil with his spear was widespread throughout the Christian period: representations of St. George, in particular, are direct descendants of objects such as this. It should be added that the present work does not actually portray a fight, as the crocodile and horse are facing the same way. Horus has caught up with Set, who adopts the form of a crocodile to escape his nephew; this ruse, however, will not be enough to save his life.