The Religious-Mythological and Ideological-Semantic Essence of the Horse in Rock Art Images

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the semantics of horse representations, which are among the most frequently encountered images in rock art. The paper systematizes scholarly views on the domestication of the horse, the breeding of pedigree horses, the worship of the horse image, as well as the religious-mythological and ideological-semantic significance of horse depictions.

The location of petroglyph monuments in mountainous areas with harsh natural conditions indicates that these sites possessed particular religious significance and functioned as places of worship and veneration. The horse occupied an important place in the daily life of ancient people as a primary domestic animal. The cult of horse worship constituted a significant component of ancient religious worldviews and served as an essential element of ritual practices.

The origins and essence of this phenomenon have been interpreted differently by researchers. The article addresses several of these interpretations. In particular, it highlights that the horse symbolized cosmological and solar beliefs expressing religious and mythological worldviews. The number of horses depicted individually, in pairs, or in groups carried symbolic meaning. Paired representations of a stallion and a mare reflected ancient fertility and reproduction cults, symbolizing their eternal union and coexistence in the “eternal pastures” of the afterlife.

In addition, the article examines the origins, nature, and underlying roots of concepts associated with the horse as a sacred animal, a symbol of authority, and other related beliefs.