Front view
Revetment Plaque Depicting Equestrian Figure and Griffin
Date: 6th century BCE
Period: Archaic Period
Public Geography:Turkey, Düver
Medium: Terracotta and paint
Dimensions:
13 × 17 × 5 1/2 in. (33 × 43.2 × 14 cm)
Classification: 3-D Object/Sculpture
Object number: 1965-21 DJ
On view
The Menil Collection, Gallery 06, Room 601
DescriptionThe spouted revetment shows a mounted horseman following a griffin, all moving to the right. The griffin has the head of an eagle, wings, and a lion body. The horse stands on its back hooves. The rider sits steadily on the back of the horse with his legs straight. With his right hand, the rider holds the mane or reins of the horse and with his left pats the top of the horse’s head behind the ears. Traces of red and black pigment remain, but heavily flaked and the piece is heavily encrusted.
EssayOnce belonging to a monumental building, this terracotta revetment marked the transition point from the building to the roof. The waterspout, a portion of which is still attached, would have functioned as a gutter to funnel rainwater off the roof. Terracotta was used to better protect the ends of the wooden superstructure from the elements. This revetment and its companion piece in the Menil Collection (1965-22 DJ) were made from a mold, which explains the consistency between the two objects. Other similar plaques are in collections in the United States, Europe, and Asia today and all originally came from one building in Düver, Turkey. Although its exact form is not known, the scale of the architectural terracottas suggests it was monumental in size. When combined, the revetments would have created a pattern of alternating mounted rider and griffin around the exterior of building. The paint on this example is heavily worn, but once would have defined details on all three figures. There is no known mythological precedent for the imagery, nor are there elements of a battle between the horsemen and the griffins. Nassos Papalexandrou, in his study of these pieces, notes that griffins are symbols of value and act as guardians.
Public Website: Yes