The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-05
THE BIBLICAL HORSES.
ALSO A FEW FAVORITEs OF AN
GENT HEROES.

Horses of story and sOng-EnOr-
nous Prices Paid for Chargers by
the Egyptians-The Most CeIebrat T.
ed HOrsemen of the Eastern World.
From the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat
The earliest mention of the horse occurs
In the Bible, where in Genesis, Joseph is
stated to have given the Egyptians bread
in exchange for their horses" But neither
in the fourth nor tenth commandment are
they noticed as are other animals. In
Judea horses were, till the days of Solo
mon, very rare. Egypt is many times
termed in the Old Testament the land OF
horses. There is pretty good evidence for
supposing that, even at the time of the
Trojan war, horses were but rare animals
in Greece. The wooden one which played
such famous part In the taking of Troy
and which inspired Virgil with his line
"Timeo Danaos ct dona ferentes''-that
favorite of the habitual quoter-came as
a surprise 20 the Trojans in a double
sense. In the excellent description given
by Theocritus of the quadruped stock of
Augeas, the Child of the Sun, who lived
IN the Peloponnesus, horses find no place
Homer speaks of them always with dig
NIFTY and admiration, and it is very evil
uent that, to his thinking, an additional
eclat attached to those heroes who pos
sessed them.
Horses for Show.
The old poets and people, however. all
connected beauty, majesty and even SUBJ
unity with their idea of these noble AMI
mails not only from their gallant appear-
Hlce. from hoi h.
Of princes, and the terrible yet graceful
accompaniment Of war, and their never
Delhg seen, as in later times employed in
the more useful purposes of draught and
husbandry
IN deuteronomy Moses expressly forbids
tne lsraelites, in the event of their elect
ing from among themselves a king, to al
low MIN to multiply to himself horses"
ana thereby foster lust of dominion and
oeihgerent propensitles, at the same time
oieatihg TOO frequent a communication
win Egypt. That country was undoubt-
euly IN early times, the great breeding
pace tor horses. AT Jacobs funeral in
0uued, there came forth from Egypt
charlots and horsemen a very great com
pdny. The Hebrews were pursued into
t nIe Red sea by Egyptian horsemen, when
e ana rider were alike overwhelmed
solomon, several centuries later. obtained
us win the narratives of the Greek
wINers According to them, Sesostris was
ule HIst professor of the art of horseman-
SHp VINO taught his countrymen how to
tame and ride the noble animal.
XenOphOn's steed.
IN the time of Solomon the price of a
morse from Egypt averaged $50 sbekels.
~hlch, according to computation. would
W ABOUT 80 10s-a large sum in those
Jays In Xenophon's time some 600 wears
'a'er man Solomon, the price of a good
tharger was about so daaks. or f27 1Os-at
gdst' that is the recorded price paid by
9'l'hes the Thracian to Xenophon him
~ ior the steed on which he rode dur
lug ms celebrated retreat. Following the
~ ptlans, the Assyrans became the most
gIeprated horsemen of the ancient world
e people are repeatedly alluded 90 by
w., WV 1eWlsh prophets not only as excelling |
- tAe beauty of their horses and the great |
9H'H ana grace of their horsemen but
olso IN all the snowy apparatus of eques-
Ian garniture and trappngs. Their pro-
~yiehcy' however, in this branch of the
lulhtary art was attained long after the |
LSs ptlans had invented and brought il to
higher degree of perfection than it had
0'7I previously reached.
Ancient Trappings.
e Assyrlans, Medes and Persians we |
,Iau, possessing more gold and silver from |
'Her enlarged empires, decked and be-
tangled their hoFsemen most gorgeouslv |
"ilh purple blue and gold. Persia then be- |
va me greatly renowned for horse riding. |
11,,gl'ophon declares that before the age Of |
rus Persia had. from its want of |
attn or the mountainous Character Of |
rs soil no horses; but that after his time |
nm tne personal example. encourage |
80. ano recommendation of the kings. |
Ddek. so much so, indeed. that If is he |
Jte1 mat the very name of Persia nv |
l, '-iich ever since their land has been |
ntowh' Originated from the word Pereesh
d, 'l' S0h III Chaldeac and Hebrew signifies
m ~ seIan. Immense numbers were bred
80 S"e pans OF Assyria and Persia. we
ter one old author Of no Jess a num-
no. '.an loVV0 grazing on one vast plain
gar the Casplan rates ~ 49,.