Abstract
Horse muzzles and Bronze muzzles are unique equestrian tools that have been referred to in scattered accounts throughout history. Nevertheless, the majority of these objects have received short descriptions and an overall study is still missing. The lack of a comprehensive study hinges on the over looked importance of these items and the superficial manner that have characterized their documentation. Both these reasons have limited observations on chronology and archaeological investigation. The recent identification of new unpublished exemplars among the Museums’ collections in Barcelona and Lleida has encouraged the authors of this paper to start a new study dedicated to these objects. Starting from a catalogue inclusive of all muzzles and muzzles currently known in the Iberian Peninsula, an attempt will be made to propose an accurate description, typological classification and, for some of the items, a revision of the decorative scenes that have marked their place in bronze horse muzzle and muzzle chronology. The formal development and the chronological framework here proposed refer to those of the exemplars found in Greece and in Italy. The broadening of the geographical area will allow reconsideration of those social phenomena that have in the past determined the diffusion of elements in horse tack throughout most of the western Peninsula in the Mediterranean.
Highlights
Horse muzzles and Bronze muzzles are unique equestrian tools that have been referred to in scattered accounts throughout history
Subsequent finds have permitted to refine this statement and to propose a significant concentration area located between the Messapian region, the Apulian region and Macedonia, even though some exemplars have been recognized in Central Greece. The chronology of these objects is based on reliable sources that are concentrated in the 4th century B.C
Even though the aim of this work is to consider typology that can be found in the Iberian Peninsula, it seems convenient to include a third type of muzzles that is not attested in the Peninsula, because of their chronological affinity with the muzzles already discussed
Summary
Sometimes certain horses may attempt to bite their owner, their riders or even other horses (Anderson, 1961: 43; Hyland, 1990: 42; 2003: 58). Every horse who attempts to bite must necessarily wear both muzzle and bridles (Argente et al, 2000: 70; Quesada, 2005: 100) This tendency towards both items has been noticed during the Antiquity: in order to avoid accidents, Xenophon suggested in his De equitatione (4th century B.C.) that a horseman should teach his groom to use the muzzle consistently with the horse: «the groom must know about putting the muzzle when he takes him out to be groomed or to the rolling-place. Simple materials —like rope, leather or wicker— and not necessarily metals were employed to fabricate a muzzle, the second ones being more an exception (this is not the case of horse-bits, which are most always metal objects in order to contrast the animal’s strength) It is not surprising, that we know about a relative high amount of horse-bits coming from Ancient Near-East, proto-historic Europe or Greek and Roman regions, whereas the number of preserved bronze muzzles is considerably minute and restricted to the Mediterranean area. An explanation for this fact may be understood if we consider cultural and military traditions as well as the social prestige of horses’ owners
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