Man Riding on a Horse

Bhimbetka rock painting showing a man riding on a horse, India

Today's quote by Bob Dylan about the Book of Job sent me looking for an illustration of one of my favorite passages from that book. I didn't expect to find something this ancient but it fills me with pleasure to think of how long men and horses have had an association.

Do you give the horse his strength,
and clothe his neck with a mane?
Do you make him quiver like a locust,
while his thunderous snorting spreads terror?
He paws the valley, he rejoices in his strength,
and charges into battle.
He laughs at fear and cannot be terrified;
he does not retreat from the sword.
Around him rattles the quiver,
flashes the spear and the javelin.
Frenzied and trembling he devours the ground;
he does not hold back at the sound of the trumpet;
at the trumpet’s call he cries, “Aha!”
Even from afar he scents the battle,
the roar of the officers and the shouting.

Job, 39:19-25