Ancient Remains of Horse Discovered at Pompeii

The Local ^ | May 11, 2018 | Jessica Phelan

[SunkenCiv]

For the first time ever, archaeologists have been able to cast the complete figure of a horse that perished in the volcanic eruption at Pompeii. The "extraordinary" discovery was made outside the city walls, in Civita Giuliana to the north of Pompeii proper, the site's directors announced this week. Excavation in the area revealed what archaeologists identified as a stable, complete with the remains of a trough. Using the same technique that has allowed them to recreate the final poses of dozens of Pompeii's victims, whereby liquid plaster is injected into the cavities left behind when bodies encased in volcanic matter decomposed, they were able to cast the horse as it would have lain when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. From the remains of its skeleton, they believe the horse was an adult measuring around 150 centimetres tall at the withers: on the short side by today's standards, but given that horses were probably smaller at the time, the experts say it would have been exceptionally large for its time. That, along with the fact that traces of a harness in valuable iron and bronze were found by its head, suggests that the animal was a specially bred parade horse, probably of considerable value. While the skeletons of donkeys and mules have been found at Pompeii, in a stable attached to the Casa dei Casti Amanti ('House of the Chaste Lovers'), it's the first time archaeologists have unearthed the complete outline of a horse. The distinct imprint left by its ear, pressed to the ground as the animal lay on its left side, makes them confident this is indeed a horse and not another type of equid.

[SunkenCiv]

Photo: Parco Archeologico di Pompei

[Magnum44]

Looks like the scorched democratic donkey in the post-Trump eruption...

[Varda]

150cm = 15 hands. That’s a big horse for the era. It also sounds like someone was in the stall with him. You don’t leave tack in the stall with a horse.

[Red Badger]

Very small horse.................

[SunkenCiv]

Giddyup.

additional Roman topics at The Local, if you post one, let me know:

• How Pompeii brought ancient Roman wine back to life
• 'Exceptional discovery' at Pompeii: child's skeleton unearthed
• Restored Pompeii kitchens show how Romans cooked
• Egypt to tourist attraction: the epic journey of Rome's Flaminian Obelisk
• Remains of ancient port discovered under Naples seafront

  Ancient Naples port found [2500 year old site of Palepolis]

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops.

[SunkenCiv]

Normanlly, but someone may have been in a big hurry to get away, then the horse succumbed first.

[Red Badger]

That must be the horse I bet on in the Kentucky Derby....................It STILL AIN’T COME IN!...................

[Varda]

I thought that too. Someone was there and may have dropped the tack and made a run for it.

[BenLurkin]

From an old Roman Newsreel (it must have been colorized at some point)

[SunkenCiv]

When there's volcanic eruption nearby it sort of, uh, behooves you to run for it.

[SunkenCiv]

Imagine the surprise of the first bettors at the Hippodrome, when they learned they were watching chariot races involving horses, instead of hippos.

[Monkey Face]

Whoa, Nelly! Ran so fast he disintegrated, just like in the cartoons!

Thanks, SC! :o]

‘Face

[Red Badger]

Hippo means ‘horse’ in Greek...................

[SunkenCiv]

He's been hur, but he's not hur right now.

[Redleg Duke]

Is it true that they found it with Robert Mueller beating it?

[SunkenCiv]

Don't give him any ideas... "This horse casting is associated with a Trump company, because Trump has vacationed in Naples in the past."

[Bratch]

He's been hur, but he's not hur right now.

[SunkenCiv]

;”)

[Caipirabob]

So cool. Thanks for the pings!