J 2023

The Cretan Horse: Still a Unique Breed? : Part I: Equines on Crete from the Neolithic to the Ottoman Period

KLONTZA, Věra, Nikolaos PANAGIOTAKIS, Michal SMÍŠEK, Romilda NEVĚČNÁ, Luis Ricardo NEVES FERNANDES et. al.

Basic information

Original name

The Cretan Horse: Still a Unique Breed? : Part I: Equines on Crete from the Neolithic to the Ottoman Period

Name in Czech

Krétský kůň: samostatné plemeno? : Část I: Koňovití na Krétě od neolitu do ottomanského období

Authors

KLONTZA, Věra (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Nikolaos PANAGIOTAKIS (300 Greece), Michal SMÍŠEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Romilda NEVĚČNÁ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Luis Ricardo NEVES FERNANDES (620 Portugal, belonging to the institution) and Emmanouil KLONTZAS (300 Greece, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Cheiron : The International Journal Of Equine And Equestrian History, Budapešť, Trivent Publishing, 2023, 2786-3182

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

60102 Archaeology

Country of publisher

Hungary

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/23:00132862

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords (in Czech)

Archeologie koňovitých; Kréta

Keywords in English

Equine Archaeology; Crete

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 11/3/2024 14:03, Mgr. Renata Macholdová

Abstract

V originále

The Cretan (or Messara, Giorgalidiko) horse or pony was first mentioned as a distinct specific horse breed by the Ottomans in 1895. This horse, however, may have a much longer history, perhaps going back to the prehistoric era. It also has an unsure future. Based on a review of available archaeofaunal, iconographical, and historiographical information, the authors identify the characteristics of the Cretan horse, discuss the possible origin of this breed, describe its current breeding status, and present a proposal for its preservation. Domesticated horses (Equus caballus) appeared on the island by the end of the third millennium B.C.E. and became part of the cultural context after the mid-second millennium B.C.E. It is difficult to trace the horse in Crete during Classical antiquity, early Christianity, and the early Middle Ages. It is possible that various breeds of E. caballus were present on the island during the Late Middle Ages. The Cretan horse is understood as part of local tradition, a historical patrimony, and an integral part of Crete‘s cultural heritage. The geographical, climatic, historical, and cultural characteristics of the island were imprinted in its characteristics. The Cretan horse is poorly documented up to this day. It now faces extinction. The authors gathered information and evidence of horses on Crete from the Neolithic period up to the present day. They produced two papers, representing a comprehensive overview of the Equus Cabalus history of the island. The first paper covers the period from prehistoric times up to 1895, when the Cretan horse was declared a special breed by the Ottoman administration and protected legally. The research summarizes archaeological, osteological, iconographical, and historical evidence. The second paper describes the state of the breed during the twentieth century, the current position, its further needs and future prospects.

Links

MUNI/A/1420/2022, interní kód MU
Name: Archeologické terénní prospekce, exkavace a dokumentace III
Investor: Masaryk University, Archaeological field prospecting, excavation and documentation III