Durer- Adoration of the Magi (Uffizi)

Salvete Omnes,
so we are in the brand new AD 2020, back in the saddle to to speak.
so starting I would like to turn your attention to one of the Durer's most important works, namely, the  wooden panel from the Uffizi Museum (Florence, Italy) - titled Adoration of the Magi, commissioned by the Saxon prince and elector of the Holy Roman Empire Frederick the Wise.
Religious topic and masterful execution, as you can see in this image from the Wiki Commons

  this beautiful painting has a bit of detail that may be of interest to us - maestro Durer took pains to paint a group of horsemen in front of and behind  the ruined arch.

the German-late Gothic  horseman, although completed in AD 1504 the equipment, especially the high saddle with round skirts, has the look of the Gothic horse tack  - note the horse whip, double reins, curb-bit, wide cinch, cover over the rump. The breastplate, headstall and reins are of one uniform design. The muscular and very much a war horse is shown in collection and perhaps showing off its training and athletic ability. This grey stallion is shod and with a long tail, but no forelock.
 
another German horseman his headgear covered with ostrich plumes

Stradiot or Albanian or perhaps even Turkish lancer with a Balkan? lance with a red pennon, and some sort of a Balkan? shield (painted a bit grotesque).
also a curb-bit with double reins, simple war bridle, and some sort of leather? barding covering the sides of this steed.

rider with a large banner from beyond the arch
 

Interestingly, the black Wise Man Saint Balthazar appears to have the so called Mercury wings with spurs?

Valete

Mercury wing - early hussars Orsza 1514

Salve,

      following the post before the last post I am going to turn to a curious element of the Polish early hussars equipment depicted in the Orsza AD (1514 battle of Orsha now in Belarus) painting:
the so called Mercury wing or 'gilded, tooled leather flap attached to the boot 

instep' (''removed when not in saddle'')  - I am citing here what  dr David 

Nicolle  said in 'Polish Medieval Armies' (from Osprey Military Publishing) on 

page 47.

I am going to copy the reconstructed early hussar there with some comments 

on the reconstruction in the near future, following the thread on the 

anniversary of AD 1514 Orsza battle.

Anyway, the 'wing' seems to me  to follow the tradition of the Greek 

mythology, of the winged shoes worn by Hermes (Roman Mercury) and known

as 'talaria.' After all this was the Renaissance :) 

This Hungarian nobleman seems to be wearing them albeit covered by the 

hem of his caftan/robe..

The various styles of Mercury wing on Polish early hussars, plus stirrups,

spurs and boots; in the last detailed image the hussars had crossed the river 

and are removing water from their boots and clothing, soon to rejoin the

battle, and Mercury wing is nowhere to be seen, perhaps stowed away before

the crossing of Dnieper River:

  

 The above images come  from battle of Orsha painting AD 1520-30s