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When Is a Horse Not a Horse? Roman Horse Jewelry

November 3, 2010 by Alison Greene

When is a horse not a horse?  When it’s the famous Pompeii horse, who’s skeleton was discovered, along with the skeletons of lots of other animals and people who were caught in the aftermath of Vesuvius’ eruption.

There’s been a lot of speculation about what exact type of horse the Pompeii horse was.  It’s pretty hard to tell just from looking at the skeletal remains.  Theories abounded, including the supposition that the Pompeii horse was from a brand now extinct.

However, according to a Cambridge University researcher, the Pompeii horse isn’t a horse at all.  A DNA examination reveals that the Pompeii horse is a kind of donkey, closely related to the Somali wild ass.

That’s not to say that the Pompeiians and those from nearby Rome didn’t love their horses.  At least five sets of remains confirmed to be horses have been found at the Pompeii site.  And Rome?

Well, once the emperor Caligula had a horse, Incitatus, that  he loved so much he fed him only golden barley — and promised that he would some day make the horse a member of the Counsul that ruled the empire.   The day before Incitatus was scheduled to appear in some games, Caligula sent advance troops through the neighborhood where the horse was stabled, cautioning them to be quiet and not disturb Incitatus’ sleep.

Imagine how many show riders would do the same if they had a few legions of troops at their disposal!

Roman Horse Jewelry

The proud spirit and passion of the Roman horse is a fine subject for jewelry.  We’re really fond of this 14K Gold Roman Horse Head Charm which can be worn as a pendant or added toward a charm bracelet. This charm is also available in silver, if you prefer silver.  Check out the proud posture, the muscular neck, the alert gaze.  This is everything that the Romans appreciated in their horses — and that we love about the horses that share our lives today!

Filed Under: Equestrian, Featured, horsehead Tagged With: Gold Horse Charms, horsehead jewelry, Roman horse jewelry, silver horse charms

About Alison Greene

Show Stable Artisans, The Equestrian Jeweler, was started in 1994 by 2 friends who had a passion for horses and jewelry- and who wanted to share the passion with others. They sought out the best artisans who created the finest pieces of equestrian jewelry -beautiful and keepsake pieces that reflected the equestrian lifestyle.

We chose the name for our blog for 2 reasons. The first reason is because we hope to “spotlight” the relevant trends, horse jewelry and information that will be of interest to you. The second reason we chose the name is to honor the most wonderful horse I have ever had- In the Spotlight, the chestnut horse pictured throughout this blog. She was an unbelievable show horse, a loving companion and my horse of a lifetime!

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Sterling Silver Prancing Horse Pendant. Our very popular horse pendant is a wonderful way to express passion for the horse. This graceful stylized piece is a perfect gift for the horse lover. Proudly made in the USA! Retails with the chain at $248.00. See item #HRSC0326 on our website for more details. Contest ends Sep 15, 2018. Good luck to everyone!

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