Romans
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Romans
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Roman
Early 19th C Quizzes
and Jigsaws |
Border Control - Hadrian's Wall - Cavalry - Foreign influences? - Size - Colour - The Horse GoddessHorse Goddess 
This image (left) is a modern reproduction of a stable shrine to the goddess Epona. Descriptions of it usually say that her pony is a foal, but the long tail shows it is adult. Epona was a Celtic goddess worshipped in Gaul and later in Britain. Like many pagan gods and goddesses she was also adopted in Rome, where her feast day was 18th December. She was associated with horses, fertility, and guidance to the Otherworld at death. A famous image of Epona was found at Alesia (Alise-Sainte-Reine) in France, which is believed to have been the centre of her cult. (Image provided courtesy of Dr MJ Gould-Earley.)
"Pony" It has been suggested that the word "pony" comes from Epona's name, or from the word for "mare" on which it is based (epos). Unfortunately the word "pony" seems to have arrived in English much later than such terms as horse, nag, destrier, charger, steed, foal, mare, haquenee, courser, rouncy, cob, palfrey, sumpter, stot, ambler, rakker or even galloway (1600s). There are several other theories from later centuries including "puny" (Scots: small) and "poulenet" (French: foal). Local Cumbrian pronunciation is "powney", the first syllable rhyming with "ow!". |
This
altar to Epona (right) was found at Maryport,
Cumbria. It is carved of local red sandstone
and shows the Goddess riding aside on a
horse which is pacing or ambling. 2nd or
3rd C AD.