Hoof of a Marble Horse Statue

Hoof of a horse statue. A particularly interesting detail is the treatment of the lower surface, executed according to the pattern of horseshoe fitting.

This marble fragment, discovered in 1960 near the entrance to the sanctuary, represents the hoof of an equine statue carved from fine insular Aegean marble. It is very likely attributable to the western pediment of the Temple of Hera and, together with a horse’s head also associated with the pedimental decoration, plays a crucial role in the reconstruction of the sculptural program. Indeed, it confirms the presence of horses or horse-drawn chariots, enhancing our understanding of the pediment’s iconography and providing important elements for typological comparisons with other Greek temple complexes, such as that of Olympia.