Stirrup, fragment

Description

The horse and riding play a central role in the life of the nomads, whether in war or peace. The Yuan-Shih, the official Chinese historical work on the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, states:

“The Yuan came from the northern areas. They are naturally good at horseback riding and archery. Therefore, they took possession of the world through the advantage of bow and horse”

From the English according to Veit, V. (1989)

The stirrup is an important part of the harness: it enables the rider to stand up in the saddle, turn around and remain balanced. These skills are indispensable in war as well as when herding and, above all, catching grazing animals.

This fragment represents the upper part of a magnificently decorated stirrup. In the middle you can see the stirrup strap being pulled through. The heads of mythical creatures can be seen on either side, reminiscent of wolves and also a little of dragons.

3D Visualisation

3D Model: H. Rohland

Images: H. Rohland

Literature

Veit, V. (1989) ‘Das Pferd - Freund und Gefährte der Mongolen.’ In Heissig, W. and Müller, C. C. (eds) Die Mongolen. Frankfurt am Main, pp. 163–169. [The Horse - Friend and Companion of the Mongols]