Myths and misinformation

[amyntoros]

It's fairly quiet here so I don't feel too guilty wasting a thread on the following:http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/98/22 ... tmlArizona Daily Wildcat. Thursday, November 17, 2005. "Things you've Always Never Wanted to Know." "The favorite horses of both Alexander the Great (Bucephalus) and Julius Caesar both had atavistic mutations - extra toes. Horses normally have only one toe per foot but are descended from horses with three or four toes on each limb."
I didn't even know horses had toes! Now, who in history supposedly counted the toes of Bucephalus and then recorded the information for posterity? We don't know the color of Alexander's eyes but apparently we know the number of Bucephalus' toes! Where DO they get this stuff? And just to show that peculiar myths and misinformation thrived well before the internet, here's a couple of lines from Alexander Pope (1688-1744) in his Prologue to the Satires.There are, who to my person pay their court:-á
I cough like Horace, and, though lean, am short,
AmmonGÇÖs great son one shoulder had too high,
Such OvidGÇÖs nose, and GÇ£Sir! you have an eyeGÇ¥GÇö-¡

Hmmm, maybe he mixed Alexander up with Richard the Third? :-)Best regards,Amyntoros

[amyntoros]

Might as well take this opportunity (rather than starting another thread) to post on a couple of films to be shown at the British Museum for those lucky people in England who might be able to attend. Both listings tell of a film which attempts to recreate Persepolis, although it does appear that they are different films. If anyone is able to go, please post a review as least one of these films is available for purchase on the web. http://www.iranheritage.org/newperspectives/ Lecture/Film - Introduction - 25 November 2005, 18.30 - British Museum, Clore Education Centre (BP Lecture Theatre)
This programme will commence with a lecture entitled Persepolis in the Ancient Near East by Professor David Stronach, followed with the screening of Persepolis a Reconstruction, a documentary that attempts to rebuild Persepolis. Film Screening / Lecture / DVD-Book - Introduction - 16 September 2005, 18.30 (Film & Lecture) - 1 December 2005, 13.00 (Film only) Clore Education Centre, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DGFilm of computerized recreation of Persepolis with introduction by John Curtis. Special offer for sale of film/book. The events are confirmed at the British Museum website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/whats ... index.html

Best regards,
Amyntoros

[jan]

Thanks, Linda Ann, for posting this information. That is very exciting.

[marcus]

I don't know about those films, I'm afraid, not being able to get along to showings.In the exhibition, however, they do have a reconstruction of Persepolis on a continuous loop, where they show the ruins and then overlay them with CGI representations of how it would have looked (complete with dinky little Persians trotting through the Apadana to pay homage. It's great ... but I didn't see whether it was available to buy on video. If I get a chance to go back to the BM before the expo closes in January, I shall try to find out - not sure whether I'd buy it, though, as it will probably be overpriced for what it is (not to make it sound bad, cos it was gorgeous!)ATBMarcus

[Athanasios]

Excellent, Amyntoros!I will definitely try to make this. I have just completed the book 'Persian Fire'by T. Holland - shame that Alexander felt compelled to raze the place down...need to get to the BM exhibition anyway.I am also looking at a business trip to Iran early on in the new year, where I will make sure time is made to get to Persepolis and hopefully the tomb of Cyrus. In fact, the more I think about it the more I yearn to re-trace his footsteps and cover what was once the Royal Road.Regards,
AthaRegards,
Atha

[Athanasios]

Not an expert in equine studies Amyntoros, but it appears that the early historians were fascinated by factoids: ) Personally, I always felt that the age of Bucephalus at death, 30, appears old. Of interest, how many horse years to a human one?!Whilst here, I read in the papers today that they have found what they believe to be the oldest map in Europe, dated circa. 500BC. It covers the boot of Italy and has names and places, many of which have not changed, written in Ancient Greek text, but local dialect (a derivative of Illyrian)...Regards,
Atha

[Nicator]

"complete with dinky little Persians trotting through the Apadana to pay homage"Ha ha ha! We must all be careful not to trip over those pesky lil critters...later Nicator

[Me]

That big hoof is the middle toe of once was several. Evolution in action, unless you believe in "creationism" LOL

[S]

Greetings,Yes, the hoof of a horse is one of its "toes"; and many horses can live to be in their 30's-40's (using 365 days as a year) with proper care. The oldest horse on record was Old Billy, who was 62 years old upon his death in 1822; the current record holder was Badger (in the UK) who was 51 years at his death this past year. Of course, these are the recorded horses; many countries do not keep records. Regards,
Sikander

[amyntoros]

Hello to all, I wasn't questioning the information that horses used to have more than one toe - it's the remark about Bucephalus's feet that had me doubting. There is so little source information on him to begin with and I'm more than confident that no ancient writer recorded this. (And I was foolish enough to even check Alexander's horse's feet in the photographs of the Alexander Sarcophagus in order to rule out imagery as a source!) It strikes me as another case where someone read it in a newspaper or article and accepted it as the truth - and passed it on down the line. I once read an interview with a man who had a horse-training school and he claimed that Alexander's men made "booties" out of straw to protect the feet of their horses while they were on the march! Now just imagine how long such straw boots would last - not to mention what an amusing image this conjures up! Best regards, Amyntoros

[amyntoros]

Hi Marcus,Well you're certainly right about the cost of the DVD/book, whether or not it's available for sale at the museum. The Persepolis Recreated DVD and book is the one available on the web - at around $99! Even on Ebay it isn't discounted more than a few dollars. It does look beautiful though, so I'm keeping my out for a "bargain". :-)Best regards,Amyntoros

[marcus]

Certainly Caesar's horse was 'recorded' as having had split hooves. I think I can say for definite, without any fear of contradiction, that there is *nothing* in *any* legitimate source that credits Bucephalus with the same. The Romance makes him breathe fire and gives him horns, fangs and all sorts of other monstrous attributes ... but I don't think even the Romance gives him cloven hooves!ATBMarcus

[Nicator]

Wow!
A fire breathing horse with fangs leading a cavalry charge to the right. That's a hot bit...(of info!) pardon the pun. Put your kids down early and lock the doors tonight everyone...Bucephalus, again thunders across the land!

[amyntoros]

Oh I just *know* you and most people here are way too young to remember a show called "Champion the Wonder Horse" - or its theme tune. Just had me roaring with laughter though, as the name of Bucephalus could be so easily substituted to tie in with your comments - "Like a streak of lighting flashing across the sky . . .Like the swiftest arrow whizzing from below . . . Like a mighty cannonball he seems to fly . . .And everyone will know the name of . . . Bucephalus, the wonder horse!(chorus)If you hear a clap of thunder . . . And there aint no sign of rain . . . Then you know it must be Bucephalus . . . Galloping, galloping, galloping across the plain . . . If you see a flash of lightning . . . And there aint no sign of rain . . . Then you know it must be Bucephalus . . . Galloping, galloping, galloping across the plain.Sorry folks, don't mind me. I've just spent the day learning how to cut sheetrock to fix a hole in the wall and now I'm finally relaxing with a couple of glasses of wine. Should know better than to post at times like these. :-)Best regards,Amyntoros

[Nicator]

La La La Bucephalus, riding across the plain...breathing fire, while Alexander hangs upon his mane...What kind of wine are you drinking (any left)? Just kidding, of course. Nope, haven't heard that one before, but it really sounds like you had a charmed childhood. Nicator