"The Bronze Horseman," "The Knight at the Crossroads," "The Three Bird" - these images are central to Russian national mythology. Bella Shapiro's monograph shows how the image of a horseman was formed and functioned in Russian culture. Initially, the holy defenders of the fatherland were depicted on foot; the transition to equestrian images chronologically coincides with the time when a horseman culture is developing in Russia. It gave rise to extensive iconography: the holy patron warriors changed their robes and the cross of martyrs to armor, weapons and a horse. The most stable equestrian image was the "snake fighter" - the heavenly patron of Russia, striking the enemy. Over time, the image of a saint protecting his people from disasters turned into a symbol of princely and then royal power. With the formation of the Russian Empire, he was replaced by the epic image of the equestrian triumphant tsar. The author of the book analyzes in detail the process of such a cultural transformation, while paying great attention to the event history of Russia from the Moscow kingdom to the last emperors. Bella Shapiro - cultural historian, museologist, associate professor of the Russian State Humanitarian University.