A multi-layered symbolism

The symbolism of the horse image in Iran was made up of different levels. First of all, these animals were of religious significance. Horses were revered in the Zoroastrian religion, which was the main belief of the Iranians.See: Root, Margaret Cool. ‘Animals in the Art of Ancient Iran’. In A History of the Animal World in the Ancient Near East, edited by Billie Jean Collins, 169–209. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2002. Zoroastrianism before the Achaemenid Persian period is quite a mystery to us, but the religion was already known among the proto-Iranian population, including the Persians. The religion spread across Iran after the establishment of the Achaemenid Persian Empire and even became recognized as one of the main beliefs by the Achaemenid rulers and the state.See: Boyce, Nora Elizabeth Mary. A History of Zoroastrianism Vol. 2: Under the Achaemenians. Handbuch Der Orientalistik. 1. Abt., Der Nahe Und Der Mittlere Osten 8. Leiden: Brill, 1982. P. 40-43. Especially white (and to some extent black) horses were considered sacred in the Zoroastrian religion and were presented in ceremonies, rituals and offerings.See: De Backer, Liesbet, and Ernie Haerinck. Paarden en Strijdwagens in de iconografie van de Achaemeniden. 2007. Diss.

However, more importantly, horses were connected to the Achaemenid royal family and the elite (Fig. 13).See: Root, Margaret Cool. ‘Animals in the Art of Ancient Iran’. In A History of the Animal World in the Ancient Near East, edited by Billie Jean Collins, 169–209. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2002. The animals were seen as a prestigious addition to someone’s property. Therefore, horses were one of the only animals that were purposely bred and could thus be rather expensive (which contributed to their elite image).See: De Backer, Liesbet, and Ernie Haerinck. Paarden en Strijdwagens in de iconografie van de Achaemeniden. 2007. Diss. Part of the connection to the royal family was the horse’s military importance (Fig. 14). Royal inscriptions proclaim the king’s validity regarding his ability to use horses during warfare. In addition, they were used in the messenger system.See: Root, Margaret Cool. ‘Animals in the Art of Ancient Iran’. In A History of the Animal World in the Ancient Near East, edited by Billie Jean Collins, 169–209. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2002. The Persian cavalry was of great importance during the establishment of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, because of the horses’ mobility and ability to move fast through rough terrain (Fig. 15 & Fig. 16). Besides, horses were used to hunt, and were thus associated with strength, force, and victory.See: De Backer, Liesbet, and Ernie Haerinck. Paarden en Strijdwagens in de iconografie van de Achaemeniden. 2007. Diss.

Just like the Bes-image, the horse motif underwent changes. In the same royal burial setting as the Bes-image, textiles from Pazyryk, Russia, depict images of horses and horsemen (Fig. 17). These depictions show many similarities to both the compartments of our necklace and reliefs of horses from Persepolis, the metropolis of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Once again, this suggests a direct connection between the nomads in Russia and the inhabitants of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.See: Abdi, Kamyar. ‘Notes on the Iranianization of Bes in the Achaemenid Empire’. Ars Orientalis 32 (2002): 133–62 and Rubinson, Karen S. ‘The Textiles from Pazyryk’. Expedition Magazine Penn Museum 32, no. 1 (1990): 49–61.