Thursday, January 20, 2022

Indo-European Horse sacrifice - video presentation

 Salvete Omnes,



A short entry this Thursday, January 20th, 2022 - and with the pandemic going away (except for the politicians and their medical advisors) we can watch this rather intriguing presentation from Survive the Jive,  the YT channel already known here for the Yamnaya presentation. Here is the link.
The narrative includes the description of the Indo-European ritual and mythology from Indian continent across Eurasia to Ireland. Sadly, out narrator know little about the Slavic ritual traditions and myths regarding horses. So you can look up the famous horse from Arkona, Rugia Island - here an article with many illustrations.








ancient Hindu ritual Ashvamedha - in the Gupta kings coins:







and  this illustration of the Irish Kingship ritual that comes Topographia Hibernica( (c.1220) - BL Royal MS 13 B VIII ) by Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) shows the ritual - the sacrifice of a mare and king bathing in the cauldron full of chopped horse meat while his retainer drink the horse stew.



and this Giraldus' description of the Irish attire, horsemanship and lack of armor , for the period of the second half of XII century AD (via Wikipedia).

Their custom is to wear small, close-fitting hoods, hanging below the shoulders a cubit's length, and generally made of parti-coloured strips sewn together. Under these, they use woollen rugs instead of cloaks, with breeches and hose of one piece or hose and breeches joined together, which are usually dyed of some colour. 

Likewise, in riding, they neither use saddles, nor boots, nor spurs, but only carry a rod in their hand, having a crook at the upper end, with which they both urge forward and guide their horses. They use reins which serve the purpose both of a bridle and a bit, and do not prevent the horses from feeding, as they always live on grass. Moreover, they go into battle without armour, considering it a burthen (burden) and esteeming it brave and honourable to fight without it.



Valete

1 comment:

Dario T. W. said...

The world of the ancient Slavs - Zdeněk Váňa; I have this book in its Polish edition.
so enjoy the English translation as given in my post.