Bamberg Horseman, Stone equestrian statue in Bamberg Cathedral, Germany
The Bamberg Horseman is a stone equestrian statue on a console at the north pillar of the St. George choir in Bamberg Cathedral, carved from several blocks of shell limestone. A crowned man sits upright on a horse facing right, a strap across his chest in his right hand and a small object in his left; his robe falls over the saddle and down his legs. The horse wears a bridle, reins and a saddle cloth with a small emblem, and the carved base carries foliage relief. All surfaces are pale, unfinished-looking stone.
The sculpture was created in the 1230s and is considered the first monumental equestrian statue in medieval Europe north of the Alps after ancient times. It was placed on the northern pillar of the choir dedicated to Saint George and has remained there ever since.
The figure is known as the Bamberger Reiter and shows a young king wearing a crown, sitting calmly on his horse. The artist likely worked alongside French stonemasons from Reims who helped build the cathedral at that time.
The figure stands on the northern choir pillar inside the cathedral and can be viewed during regular visiting hours. Looking upward helps to see the details of the rider and his horse.
No one knows for certain who the crowned rider represents, and researchers suggest kings ranging from Hungary to Swabia. The sculpture was never part of a tomb, which is unusual for medieval equestrian statues.
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