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Thracian finds in Bulgaria

Started by Swampster, May 03, 2020, 09:57 PM

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Imperial Dave

Nice find and a detailed write up too
Former Slingshot editor

Erpingham

QuoteThe horseman is said to be a deity.

The six legged horse is a bit of a giveaway.

Duncan Head

Quote from: Swampster on May 03, 2020, 09:57 PMIs that a 'xyston' length weapon he is using?
Nice. Bearing in mind that the find is probably from the 3rd century AD, and it is suggested that the deceased may have been a Roman army veteran, the horseman reminds me of portrayals of Roman contarii.
Duncan Head

Swampster

Quote from: Erpingham on May 04, 2020, 07:46 AM
QuoteThe horseman is said to be a deity.

The six legged horse is a bit of a giveaway.
I did at first think it was well on the way to being Sleipnir, but I think the extras may be tracery rather than legs.

Erpingham

maybe, but multilegged animals as shamans' steeds are a feature of steppe religion, being found in Scythian contexts.  And there is this piece of Hungarian folklore

The táltos steed would typically appear at first to the protagonist (usually a peasant's son, adventuring prince, or a youngest son) disguised as an old and ugly jade. If it is treated well, it would ask the hero to feed it hot cinders, whereupon its transform into a steed with golden coat, golden saddles and five or six legs. In this form it could fly with the protagonist on its back; its speed is mandatorily described as "faster than a bird", "faster than wind", and finally "faster than thought".