Something you've never seen before

[Baitball Blogger]

https://uberhumor.com/horse-wearing-reconstructed-2500-year-old-scythian-horse-armour-unearthed-in-the-region-altai-mountains-siberia

[Fla Dem]

1. Beautiful, the work of artisans and craftsmen 2500 years ago. Absolutely amazing.

[in2herbs]

2. WoW. But I can't figure out what the horse is standing on. Looks like some kind of metal ladder.

Also, its right front hoof looks like the shoe is loose and separated from the hoof.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Is it a real horse?

[Donkees]

4. No, and it's not 'armor' -- it's Scythian burial regalia

Photo of a museum horse replica:


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"Even the most humble Scythian was buried in a kurgan," says Francfort. "To be sure, he would have been accompanied by only one horse, or sometimes only its head or horse figurines." The horses were found buried side by side on a bed of leaves and birch bark next to a funeral chamber containing the pillaged remains of the Scythian nobles. The horses appear to have been left undisturbed. Their bits are made of wood and sculpted with animal figures, while their saddles are decorated with gold leaf, leather, and felt and rested on red saddle blankets. Each horse appears to have worn ornaments relating to an animal commonly represented in Scythian art. Ibex horns fashioned in wood were discovered near one horse and appear to have been worn on its head, while a griffin sculpture in the round with horns of leather was recovered near another pair of false horns.

https://archive.archaeology.org/online/news/horses.html