A Polynesian version of Pangu/Purusa. The sea god Tangaroa creating other gods and humans from his own body. A wood carving from the Austral Islands.
A horse on a relief from Sanchi (2nd-1st century BCE). Notice the convex facial profile, a feature of the horses of southeastern Asia and the Barb horses of Africa.
A horse representation from the "Scythian" period, Southern Russia. With the exception of the Spanish Barb, a late import from North Africa, European horses resembled the Central Asian horse with a rather straight snout. The Arabian and derived species have concave profiles.
This horse sculpture from Konarak displays both the convex snout and pre-orbital depression typical of early Indian horses.
Similar profile on a Sangeang bronze drum equine.
Concave profile of Arabian horse. (From "Breed profile of Spanish Barb," http://www.angelfire.com/ky/WarHorse/breed.html)
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Copyright 2000 Paul Kekai Manansala
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