Description
Book SynopsisIn ancient Greece, the arrival of the horse marked a turning point in military and cultural practices, introduced initially by invaders who relied on the animal for their chariots. Unlike the regions of Asia and Egypt, where chariot warfare flourished on vast plains, Greece's rugged terrain and limited pasture made widespread chariot use and horse breeding challenging. The imported horses were generally small, spirited animals suited to the compact plains of Greece and the needs of the noble classes who primarily maintained them. Greek mythology and early art reflect this special status; horses appear often in scenes of hunting or chariot racing, as seen in Mycenaean seal stones, but rarely in depictions of mounted riders, indicating that horseback riding was still uncommon. Over time, as grazing land limitations persisted, many horses had to be imported from more fertile regions, and domestic breeding was confined largely to a wealthy elite. By the 8th century B.C., significant cha
