Sculptpedia Statues, Busts and Sculptures Park sculptures and installations Ancient World & Antiquity Middle Ages & Renaissance Marble & Other Stones Bronze & Other Metals

Winged Horses of Tarquinia

The Winged Horses of Tarquinia are an Etruscan sculpted group in terracotta and high relief, preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia. It comes from the pediment of the temple of the Ara della Regina, on the Civita hill, part of the ancient Etruscan acropolis of Tarquinia. The work shows Hellenistic influence and was probably painted, although no trace of the original polychromy survived the restoration. The museum offers a graphic reconstruction of the colors in the exhibition room. The sculpture is sometimes confused with the “little horses” mentioned in Marguerite Duras’s novel, but that reference concerns painted tomb frescoes from the Monterozzi necropolis, not this piece.

Detail of the Winged Horses of Tarquinia showing two winged horse heads and upper bodies in relief.
Detail of the Winged Horses of Tarquinia, with the horses’ heads, bridles, and wings visible in relief.
August 2016 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Close-up of the Winged Horses of Tarquinia showing a horse’s head with bridle and a feathered wing.
Detail of the Winged Horses of Tarquinia, showing the horse’s head and wing.
August 2016 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Two sculpted horse heads from the Winged Horses of Tarquinia, with detailed manes and bridles.
Detail of the Winged Horses of Tarquinia, showing two sculpted horse heads.
August 2016 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Close-up of two sculpted horse heads from the Winged Horses of Tarquinia, shown in profile with bridles and stylized manes.
Detail of the Winged Horses of Tarquinia, showing two sculpted horse heads with bridles and stylized manes.
August 2016 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Close-up of the Winged Horses of Tarquinia showing a horse head with ornate bridle and detailed mane.
Detail of a horse head from the Winged Horses of Tarquinia, showing the ornate bridle and textured sculptural surface.
August 2016 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleWinged-horses of Tarquinia
Original-language nameLes chevaux ailés de Tarquinia
Typehigh-relief fragment
Subjecta pair of winged horses

Historical context

CultureEtruscan art
Datemid-4th century BC; some researchers argue for a later date, possibly after the 3rd century BC

Creator

DiscovererPietro Romanelli

Discovery and provenance

DiscoveryDiscovered during archaeological excavations at the temple site in 1938, found broken into pieces
ProvenanceFrom the pediment of the Temple of the Ara della Regina (the Major Temple of Tarquinia)
Original locationThe Ara della Regina temple in the ancient Etruscan city of Tarquinia, on the hill of Civita
Associated templeTemple of the Ara della Regina, better known as the Major Temple of Tarquinia
Temple dedicationUnknown; possibly dedicated to Artume, identified by the Romans with Diana

Physical characteristics

TechniqueHigh relief
MaterialTerracotta

Appearance

DescriptionA skillfully rendered pair of winged horses, highly realistic except for the wings
Original compositionThe surviving relief was probably the left part of a larger composition; the missing right part may have shown the horses harnessed to Artume's chariot
Original polychromyProbably painted, but no trace of the paint survived the restoration

History and restoration

Condition at discoveryFound broken into pieces
RestorationRestored by assembling the surviving fragments and reconstructing missing details
PreservationThe right part of the relief has not survived

Location and ownership

Current locationNational Archaeological Museum of Tarquinia, Tarquinia, Province of Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
Display statuspermanently exhibited
Museum settingpart of an archaeological complex
Museum reconstructionThe museum displays a graphic reconstruction of the polychromy on a wall in the exhibition room

Iconography and meaning

Identification noteThe group cannot be identified with Pegasus or with the horses that drew Apollo's chariot
InterpretationPurely decorative; adapted to the Etruscan world

Significance

Symbolic meaningThe image of the winged horses became a symbol and emblem of Tarquinia