From: Gerry Reinhart-Waller
Message: 4221
Date: 2000-10-10
----- Original Message -----
From: John Croft <jdcroft@...>
To: <cybalist@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 12:18 AM
Subject: [tied] Re: horses
> Hi Gerry, you wrote
>
> > Thanks John. Yes, the depiction in question is the Behistun relief
> at
> > Persepolis. Is this the one you are referring to? I have a
> question: how
> > can the observer of a relief differentiate betwen a horse and an
> onager?
>
> The Behistun relief was carved for Darius the first in 519 BCE, not
> the third millennium. The only portrayal of equine draft animals
> from so early is one from Leonard Wolley's excavations at Ur showing
> onagers pulling four wheeled chariots.
>
> The onager was roughly the size of a mule or horse, but skeletally
> resembled the donkey. The chief distinguishing mark is the tufted
> tail, and the long donkey-like ears.
>
> For an excellent site on Behistun have a look at
> http://home.wxs.nl/~lende045/Behistun/Behistun.htm
>
> Regards
>
> John
Absolutely correct. 'Twas my error labelling what Alekseev mentioned as "an
early relief in Iraq which dates to the third millennium BC, depitcts the
horse as a loading animal"
as the Behistun relief at Persepolis. Your link doesn't show the horse (or
any animal) as a loading animal.
Hmmm. I wonder if the error comes in labelling an onager as a horse? I'll
check out other info. especially Woolley's excavations at Ur and get back to
you.
Thanks again.
Gerry