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ANTIQUITIES OF ATHENS. 



This vase, which was found by Lord Aberdeen at Athens, is, un- 

 fortunately, not entire ; it is remarkable for the fineness of its clay, 

 the beauty of the varnish, and the spirit of the figures. The subject 

 represented on it may allude to some prize obtained in a race at the 

 public games by one or more horses ; such successes were recorded 

 on vases and marbles. An inscription in the Laconian dialect 

 quoted by Muratori, and emended by Ruhnkenius (Greg, de D.) 

 mentions a prize gained by Damoclidas, xeX^n, equo singulari. 



From the posture of the man who is represented as examining the 

 foot of the horse, we are not to suppose that any conclusion can be 

 drawn respecting the practice of nailing iron shoes to the feet of 

 that animal.* Beckmann, with his usual industry and research, has 

 collected almost all that has been said on this point, and infers that 

 there is no mention of iron shoes in the ancient writers. The hoofs 

 of the horses of Alexander were worn out by constant journies. 

 Diod. S. xvii. Those of Mithridates are described as xuhevovreg \% 

 viroTptfiys, at the siege of Cyzicum. Appian. de B. M. To what 

 Beckmann has said, we may add the remark of Wesseling : " Ignotus 

 erat solearum ferrearum quibus ungulce equorum contra aspera et seru- 

 posa loca muniuntur, usus. Scio J. Vossius ad Catull. ex Xenophonte 

 eas eruere, atque hinc 'KaXxoTroficcs Homeri equos illuminare conatum esse, 

 sed irrita opera." D. Sic. xvii. 233. 



This vase was also found by Lord Aberdeen in excavating a tomb 

 at Athens ; the ground of it is red, and the workmanship rather 



* " While the Lacedaemonians were encamped at Decelea, the Athenian cavalry were 

 to little purpose employed in endeavouring to check their ravage and destruction. Many 

 of the horses, the art of shoeing that animal being yet unknown, were lamed by unremitted 

 service on rough and stony ground." — Mitford's Greece, ii. 498. 



