Français – عربي – ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ – English
Numidian cavalry were feared in all the ancient world for their bravery and their efficiency as fighters. In addition to their exploits serving their country, Numidian cavalry units fought alongside the Carthaginian and Roman army. A statuette that was found in Canossa, Italy, is one of the few contemporary depictions of Numidian cavalry.
This painted terracotta statuette, 16 cm high and 23 cm large, depicts a wounded Numidian soldier, riding his galloping horse. It was originally a vase decoration. It was discovered in a tomb in Canusium (Canossa), Italy.
What makes this discovery even more remarkable is that this statuette was not found in Africa, but in Italy. The artist was certainly inspired by the Numidian cavalry that fought in Hannibal‘s army.
This statuette is now kept at the Louvre Museum, in Paris.
