122 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



expressions employed by the Greeks and Romans, were 

 Celtic/ 



All the Gaulish medals bear the figure of a horse, 

 often accompanied by that of a boar. The sacrifice of a 

 white horse was the greatest oblation that could be offered 

 to the gods of these people ; and the many statuettes of 

 horses found in various places would tend to prove that a 

 mysterious importance was attached to this noble creature. 

 The Gauls, as before noticed, buried their chiefs and 

 warriors with their weapons, their dogs, and their war- 

 horses, for on their steeds they were to ride when they 

 entered the abode of everlasting felicity. 



The numerous cairns, or Celtic tombs, which abound 

 in Brittany and Franche-Comte, show that this custom 

 widely prevailed. 



'The Gauls,' Cagsar writes, 'were so fond of their 

 horses, and valued them so highly, that the German allies 

 could not procure them for their service.'^ 



' Megnin. Op. cit. p. 14. As illustrative of this fact, we may 

 give the following examples. Names of countries : Denmark ; of 

 people: Marsi, Marcomanni ; names of places : Penmark, Markhaiisen, 

 Kfjenigsmark, Mark of Brandenl'urg, Marca, Marca Trevisana, Kur- 

 mark, Mittlemark, Neumark, yiltmark, Formark, Ukermark, and Stier- 

 mark. Marches, or frontiers, such as the Welsh and Scotch marches, 

 the Marche de Limousin in France, and March fie/d in Austria j the places 

 where the standards of the northern people were arrested, and repre- 

 sented by a horse. The term also signifies a market for horses, and the 

 German jahr-marckt, or annual fair, always denoted one where horses 

 were sold. Individuals : French Martinis, German Mai-kgraf. Cavalry 

 terms : Polemark, commander of a body of troops j vmrechal (qui 

 equorum gerit curam, qui proest stabulo) j merchant, marchand, horse- 

 dealer. For the Celtic etymology of terms used by the hippiatrists, 

 see Recueil de Medecine Veterinaire, 1858. 



" Megnin. At the great battle before Alesia, the Roman cavalry 

 was composed exclusively of German allies. — Cresar, Commentaries. 



