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| Monogrammist IB Marcus Curtius leaping into the Chasm 1529 engraving British Museum |
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| Heinrich Aldegrever Woman abducted by Satyr on Horseback, with Man lamenting 1530 engraving British Museum |
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| Francesco Salviati Romans in Battle with the Gauls (detail) ca. 1543-45 fresco Sala dell' Udienza, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence |
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| Gualtiero Padovano Frieze of Mounted Classical Warriors 1550-52 fresco (grisaille) Hall of the Gods, Villa Godi-Malinverni, Lonedo di Lugo, Vicentino |
The Horses of Achilles
When they saw that Patroclus was slain,
who had been so stalwart, and strong, and young,
the horses of Achilles started to weep;
their immortal nature was indignant
at the sight of this work of death.
They would shake their heads and toss their manes,
stamp the ground with their feet, and mourn
Patroclus who they realized was lifeless – undone –
worthless flesh now – his spirit lost –
defenseless – without breath –
returned from life to the great Nothing.
Zeus saw the tears of the immortal horses
and grew sad. "At the wedding of Peleus,"
he said, "I should not have acted so thoughtlessly;
it would have been better my hapless horses
if we had not given you! What are you doing down there,
among woebegone humanity, the playthings of fate?
You for whom neither death nor old age lie in wait,
you are harassed by transitory calamities.
Men have implicated you in their troubles." – Yet the two
noble animals went on shedding their tears
for the never-ending calamity of death.
– C.P Cavafy (1897), translated by Rae Dalven (1961)
When they saw Patroclus slain,
who was so brave, and strong, and young,
the horses of Achilles began to weep;
their immortal nature was exasperated
at the work of death which it beheld.
They tossed their heads and shook their long manes,
struck the ground with their feet, and mourned
Patroclus, whom they felt lifeless – wiped out –
a worthless piece of flesh now – his spirit gone –
defenceless – without breath –
sent back from life to the great Nothing.
Zeus saw the immortal horses'
tears and took pity. 'At Peleus' wedding',
he said, 'I should not have acted so thoughtlessly;
better not to have given you away, my unhappy
horses! What were you about down there
among the wretched human race that is the toy of fate?
You who are not watched over by death, or by old age,
are being tyrannized by temporary misfortunes. Men have tangled
you in their sufferings.' – But the two noble beasts
continue to shed their tears
for the permanent misfortune of death.
– C.P Cavafy (1897), translated by David Ricks (1989)
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| Anonymous Italian Artist Battle Scene ca. 1550 marble relief Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
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| Taddeo Zuccaro Alexander and Bucephalus ca. 1553 drawing National Gallery of Art, Washington DC |
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| Nicolò Boldrini after Pordenone Marcus Curtius leaping into the Chasm ca. 1566 chiaroscuro woodcut British Museum |
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| Nicolas Poussin Hunt of Meleager and Atalanta ca. 1634-39 oil on canvas Museo del Prado, Madrid |
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| Aniello Falcone Roman Mounted Soldiers ca. 1640 oil on canvas Museo del Prado, Madrid |
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| Simon de Vos Death of Publius Decius Mus 1641 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
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| Gianlorenzo Bernini Vision of Constantine 1670 marble Scala Regia, St Peter's Basilica, Rome |
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| Giuseppe Cades Tullia about to ride over the Body of her Father in her Chariot ca. 1770-75 drawing Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
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| Gustave Moreau Diomedes devoured by Horses 1866 watercolor Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
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| Henri Regnault Automedon with the Horses of Achilles 1868 oil on canvas Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Henri Regnault Anatomical studies of a Horse (for the painting Automedon with the Horses of Achilles) 1868 drawing Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |