The Moon God Mên

Mên was a lunar deity worshipped in ancient Asia Minor (modern Turkey), who had a variety of roles, from god of healing to protector of tombs, and was also associated with fertility and the military. He is often shown with a crescent moon behind his shoulders, as here, and a pinecone, although the precise meaning of this attribute is not clear (compare 1964.126).

This terracotta was probably a votive offering; it may have been modeled after a marble equestrian statue of the god with a similar composition known to have been in Galatia (Turkey).