292 THE HORSES OF PREHISTORIC [CH. 



learned from Libya to yoke four horses to a chariot, as stated 

 by Herodotus, but also learned from thence to ride on horse- 

 back. 



Nor need we be surprised if the Libyan blood had made its 

 way into Asia Minor at a date anterior to its first advent into 

 Greece, for, as we have seen, the Libyan horses could pass by 

 land into Asia Minor, whilst the broad expanse of sea between 

 Africa and Greece would interpose a formidable barrier to the 

 transport of horses, at least in any quantity, from Libya to 

 Greece, in the days when only ships of small tonnage sailed 

 the seas. 



It may naturally be said that, if at a comparatively early 

 period the Libyan strain had made its way into Greece, where 

 dun-coloured horses were in general use, we ought to find 

 indications of cross-breeding in the colours, such as have been 

 furnished by the existence of black and grey horses at different 

 points in our wanderings through Asia, Africa, and Spain. First 

 of all let us deal with the question of white horses, which cannot 

 be regarded as tests of cross-breeding, but which must have 

 come down into Greece from Illyria or Thrace, where they were 

 already known in Homeric days ; and then we shall proceed to 

 the evidence for black and grey horses in post-Homeric and 

 classical times. The names of heroes, which occur in early 

 legends, prove that very soon after Homeric days both white 

 horses and black horses, as well as dun-coloured, had become 

 known in Greece. Thus a famous hero, worshipped at Daulis 

 in Phocis, was called Leucippus (" He of the White Horses "), 

 whilst there was a Theban worthy by name Melanippus (" He 

 of the Black Horses "). 



Now since the myth of Pegasus and the type of Mycenean 

 chariot-wheel indicate that the Greeks early knew the horse 

 of North Africa, and the Homeric poems make it certain that 

 the Acheans had plenty of dun-coloured animals, and as the 

 black horses of Greece must have been a cross similar to those 

 already enumerated, the evidence of Homer and the later myths 

 seems perfectly correct. 



At what date cavalry began in Greece to replace the chariot 

 in war it is difficult to say with precision, but various considera- 



