The Horse in Magic and Myth by M. Oldfield Howey

Author:M. Oldfield Howey [Howey, M. Oldfield]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Folklore & Mythology, Nature, Animals, Horses
ISBN: 9780486120478
Google: mvLBAgAAQBAJ
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Published: 2012-04-18T04:26:31+00:00

CHAPTER XIV

Sun-horses

NEARLY all ancient nations, especially Eastern nations, have represented the Ruler of the Day as being drawn in his chariot by celestial horses on his diurnal journey across the skies. Hence horses figure largely in solar rites, and used to be led in procession before the Sun-god’s shrine, and in many countries were annually sacrificed to him.

Even the Israelites at times followed these customs, as can be seen by referring to 2 Kings xxiii. 11, where we read that Josiah “ took away the horses that the kings of Judah [his predecessors] had given to the sun, ... and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.”

There is a good deal of difference of opinion about the rites in which these horses and chariots participated. Some think that the horses were sacrificed to the sun ; others that they were harnessed every morning to the chariots dedicated to the sun, which are mentioned in the same passage, and that the king, or some high officials, rode to meet the sun as it rose, as far as from the eastern gate of the temple to the suburbs of Jerusalem.

In 2 Kings xi. 16 reference is made to “ the way by which the horses came into the king’s house,” showing how regularly the custom must have been followed, whatever it may have been, and disposing of the idea advanced by some critics that the horses were effigies of stone, wood, or metal, erected in the temple.

The Tradition of the Sanhedria, fol. 21, mentions Solomon’s love for horses and his determination to have a large stud, although the prohibition of Moses had been clearly expressed, saying that the king shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses “ (Deut. xvii. 16). We read in Kings that ” Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen . . . whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem “ (1 Kings iv. 26, x. 26).

In the same chapter we also learn how, with his proverbial wisdom, he evaded the second part of the commandment, for “ Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt ” to him, instead of sending his people to fetch them. Though perhaps most of these animals were intended for military purposes or for display, some of them were probably sacred.

Muhammad refers to Solomon’s infatuation for them, which caused him first to forget the hour of evening prayer, and then in his bitter repentance cruelly to slaughter them, as being the cause of his failing. The passage describing this runs :

“ Remember when at eventide the prancing chargers were displayed before him [Solomon], and he said, ‘ Truly I have loved the love of earthly goods above the remembrance of my Lord, till the sun hath been hidden by the veil of darkness. Bring them back to me.’ And he began to sever the legs and the necks.

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