Cypro-Archaic Terracotta Warrior Figurine Fragment

Cypro-Archaic Period I-II, c. 700-475 BC, Kourion, Republic of Cyprus

This magnificent and rare figure fragment from the Cypro-Archaic period features the upper half of a handmade male warrior, likely part of a larger horse and rider group. The figure is adorned with a conical headdress, characteristic of the era. Notable facial features include a protruding chin, beard, hooded eyes, small pellet ears or studs on the helmet, and a pronounced large nose. While the arms are missing, it is believed that the warrior’s original posture had them extended forward, possibly holding reins within a chariot group.

This fragment is a remarkable example of the Cypriot craftsmanship from the Iron Age, where simple handmade terracotta figurines were crafted with coarse, cylindrical bodies and distinctive facial features formed from clay pellets. These figures were symbolic representations of warriors, charioteers, and soldiers, linking them to the martial culture of the time. Terracotta chariot models and horse and rider figures, such as this one, were often used as votive offerings in sanctuaries or placed in the graves of the wealthy. They were thought to symbolize the connection between the divine and the earthly realms, offering protection and guidance in the afterlife. The prominence of such figures suggests a society deeply entrenched in warfare, with the riding of horses and chariot warfare being exclusive to the elite. Many of these horse and rider figurines have been found in the sanctuary of Apollo Hylates at Kourion, where the god Hylates—later associated with Apollo—was worshipped. Excavations at other sites, such as the sanctuary of Avia Irini, have uncovered numerous chariot models, further emphasizing the importance of chariotry in Cypriot culture.

This fragment, with its raw and expressive form, offers a fascinating insight into the religious, military, and cultural life of ancient Cyprus, making it a highly desirable piece for collectors and scholars of Mediterranean antiquities.

Good condition. Age-related wear and corrosion. Chip and nicks. The object is covered with a thin layer of earthy encrustation. Size approx. 10,3cm x 5,6cm x 3,6cm. 

Provenance: According to information, from the collection of professor Dr. Med. Albert Fischer, 1891–1956. Founder and director of the Carlsberg Foundation biological institute, Copenhagen (1932–1956). Albert Fischer acquired antiquities during his travels in the 1930s-1950s.

For a similar examples see:

Chariot group, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 74.51.1800 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/241355)

Figurine, Louvre, Accession Number: AO 32412 (https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010359455)

Figure, The British Museum, Accession Number: 1896,0201.219 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1896-0201-219)

Terracotta horse and rider figurine (tomb gift), Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, Accession Number: AN1888.1267 (https://collections.ashmolean.org/object/304807)

References and further reading:

Terracotta Figurines from Kourion in Cyprus, John Howard Young & Suzanne Halstead Young, Published by: The University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1955.

Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus, John L. Myres, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1914.

Horse and Rider Figurines from Ancient Marion, Chelsea Walter, Arizona State University, December 2014.