Harness

We are fairly well informed about the harnesses of Roman cavalry horses. Harnessed cavalry horses are sometimes depicted on horesemen’s gravestones. The horsegear is shown clearly in these images; all kinds of details can be made out. The saddle is attached to the horse by means of girth, chest and tail straps, and covered by a long hanging horsecloth. The straps are decorated with metal discs (phalerae), which sometimes served as strap junctions as well as embellishment. This piece was part of a spectacular find in 1895, when a large quantity of Roman bronze, including 85 phalerae, was retrieved during dredging work in the Rhine near Doorwerth. It is a solid bronze disc, cast in a mould and finished on the lathe. The front is silver-plated and decorated with small, engraved plant motifs. These motifs are filled with niello, a powdery black paste, part of which has been lost.