The hermit looks like a satyr known for singing, drinking and dancing. The chariot is similar to the sun and moon horse I think. If you have 3 more gems we can check if we can keep switching between the two types.
It looks like once you choose a chariot it won't allow you to unlock the other. The gem slot disappears above the other statue, unfortunately. You're absolutely right that it's basically just the sun and moon horse. Most things in this DLC are really just a visual reskin of things from the previous DLCs and base game. It's mostly just the weapons that are new.
