Horse bit cheekpiece in form of a snake's head
Unknown Artist
ca. 7th century BCE
Medium
Bone (antler)
Dimensions
8 3/16 × 1 1/16 × 9/16 in. (20.8 × 2.7 × 1.4 cm)
Classification
Ivory/Bone-Equestrian
Culture
Scythian
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Khalil Rabenou, 1958
Accession Number
58.131.4
Art Historical Context
This intricately carved horse bit cheekpiece, shaped as a snake's head, dates to around the 7th century and hails from Scythian culture in the Eurasian steppes. Crafted from antler bone—a durable, readily available material for nomadic peoples—the piece measures about 8 inches long and served as part of a horse's bridle, linking the bit to the reins. Scians, renowned horse-riding warriors, dominated the ancient Near East through their mobility and equestrian prowess, making such artifacts essential tools of their lifestyle. The snake motif exemplifies Scythian "animal style" art, where creatu...