The supposed autonomy of Celtic civilization in Gaul suffered a further setback with Fernand Benoît's studyBenoît 1950. of the funereal symbolism of the horseman with the serpent-tailed ("anguiforme") daemon, which he established as a theme of victory over death, and Epona; both he found to be late manifestations of Mediterranean-influenced symbolism, which had reached Gaul through contacts with Etruria and Magna Graecia. Benoît compared the rider with most of the riders imaged around the Mediterranean shores.
The supposed autonomy of Celtic civilization in Gaul suffered a further setback with Fernand Benoît's studyBenoît 1950. of the funereal symbolism of the horseman with the serpent-tailed ("anguiforme") daemon, which he established as a theme of victory over death, and Epona; both he found to be late manifestation,s of Mediterranean-influenced symbolism which had reached Gaul through contacts with Etruria and Magna Graecia. Benoît compared the rider with most of the riders imaged around the Mediterranean shores.