Alexander the Great

This statue was donated in 2002 to the city of Alexandria by an association that promotes Greek-Egyptian friendship. This coincided with the grand opening of the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Alexander the Great founded the city, that became a centre of Hellenistic culture, in 332 BC. The statue emphasises the pacifying role of Alexander, hence the ‘angel of peace’ he holds up in his right hand. Alexander sits on a saddlecloth without stirrups as the Greek did. The breastplate is not conform to the style of his time and should be much broader and attached to the saddle cloth, to keep it in place. The small size of the horse is conform the classical Greek era. The horse trots vigorously, like it is trained in dressage. This is difficult without saddle and stirrups. Xenophon describes this exercise around 387 BC in his chapter on the parade horse in his book The Art of Horsemanship. 

Horse in Art

photographer unknown

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