36 



HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



the same period as Arrian, also speaks of a horse shod 

 with a sock or shoe, uztoot^^oc, which was probably made 

 of spartea, like the above. 



I find on a silver coin of Tarentum.,' now in the 

 British Museum, and struck, it is surmised, about b.c. 300, 

 a curious representation of a horse and two men, which 

 might, at the first glance, be supposed to be connected 

 with our subject (fig. i). 



fig. I. 

 The horse is beautifully delineated, and admirably 

 represents the breed then famous in this part of Magna 

 Grascia. A groom or boy, nude as the horse attendants 

 are generally represented on ancient Greek vases and 

 sculpture, is seated on the horse's back, and strokes his 



"^ Tarentum, the modern Taranto, an ancient town of Italy, in the 

 kingdom of Naples, is built on a small island, in the Gulf of Taranto, 

 near Brindisi. It was founded b.c. 700, as a Greek colony, by Lace- 

 daemonian Parthenii, the descendants of a people noted for their love of 

 horses and excellent horsemanship. This city was one of the most 

 flourishing and powerful of Magna Graecia, and was distinguished for 

 its luxury and splendour, as well as for its encouragement of the tine 

 arts. For a long time it resisted the Romans, but at last submitted to 

 them, B.C. 272. The above drawing is twice the size of the coin. 



