The sheep-resembling heads are of Nisean horses, a breed native to the Media region of Western Iran, drawing the chariot of the Persian king. The images the Greek artisans of Asia Minor carved for the palace at Persepolis were ironically preserved in the earth, their contours unchanged despite the fall of the Persian empire. The Nisean horse was greatly treasured in Eurasia, both east and west, and it was to play an important role in the birth of the Silk Road after Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty named it the "heavenly horse" (Ch. tianma).
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