Bronze horse

Ancient Greek When the Met acquired this Greek bronze horse in 1923, scholars identified it as a 5th-century BCE Early Classical work. For decades, it was considered the single most important object in the museum's entire Classical collection. Then, in the late 1960s, its authenticity was questioned on technical grounds.

Extensive scientific testing followed, including thermoluminescence dating of the clay core. The analysis confirmed the horse was genuinely ancient but re-dated it to the Late Hellenistic period (late 2nd-1st century BCE), several centuries younger than originally believed. The controversy didn't diminish its quality. The naturalistic proportions and calm stance represent a high point of Hellenistic bronze-working.

The horse stands 40.2 cm (15.8 inches) tall and was cast using the direct lost-wax method. It's said to come from the sea near Mahdia, Tunisia, possibly cargo from an ancient shipwreck. You can see it in Gallery 164 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.