| Contents Amazon religious beliefs on White Stallion The Uffington White Horse The Horse Ghost of Arizona's Superstition Mountains The Heavenly White Horses of China This Site will be regularly updated as I get more legends in. If you have a legend of the White Horse please submit to burlingtonnews@yahoo.com |
FOLK LORE AND LEGENDS
| Amazons followed several religions. The one constant in all these religions was the belief in mysticism and supernatural energies. The underlying idea of the cult of Cybele: In the actual ceremonies performed at Cybele's shrines the original warlike character was almost lost in the mystic frenzy which found expression in noisy shouting and self-affliction. Measured beating of drums, the clashing of cymbals, and the music of the pipe, which set the rhythm for the ecstatic motion of the worshippers. Of her inspiration came a form of holy madness, which endowed the worshipper with a sense of mystic ecstasy and supernatural strength. F.Bennett Of the following of the Bacchic religion: The magic power with which the phallic lord of exuberant natural life revolutionized the world of women is manifested in phenomenon which surpass the limits of our experience and our imagination. A religion which established the closest bond between beatitude and supersensory existence. J.J.Bachofen The Amazons in the Thermondon region were considered the enemies of the griffins. The griffin was the totem animal of the soil and represented the ancestral soil. In its twin nature, there loomed the eagle-beaked threat of winged fear hovering above the abyss, mixed with the snake and lion bodies of arid golden sand. Whoever wanted to live there had to fight it. Naturally the horse is the totem of the Amazons. The Amazons felt a profound magic connection for the horse. In a magic way something of a symbol of strong desires and a propellant of their urges, especially when its hoofs struck fire and thus symbolized fire,"the shiny tongue of the Gods." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It also has a bearing on the myth that Pegasus sprang forth from the blood of the Lybian Amazon Medusa. therefore the Amazon presumably has magic horse blood in her veins. Myrine, obeying an apparition in a dream decided to sacrifice horses. In highly secret rites, a white stallion was sacrificed. The "sacred marriage" between the divine animal and the queen supposedly served the magic renewal for the people. H. Diner ----------------------------------------------------------------------- It seems no accident that the earliest shamanism— originated in Siberia was female shamanism, connected with the Great Bear constellation and the Great Goddess Artemis; and that Artemis was also the name applied to the Great Goddess of Catal Hüyük in the 7th millennium BCE as well as the Amazons in the 5th century BCE—seventy centuries later! V. Noble -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The female skeletons and mummies found in the steppe burials are consistently buried with spoons (for the sacred mare's milk koumiss), mirrors (for healing and divination), gypsum (Robert Graves said the priestesses painted their faces with white gypsum before rituals), portable altars for offerings, and often with their own weapons as well—swords, daggers, and arrowheads. Some wear headdresses (sometimes as grand as three feet high) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________ |
Uffington White Horse
General Information
National Grid Ref SU 305 865
The Uffington white horse can be found 1.5 miles due south of Uffington village on the Berkshire downs (although now in
Oxfordshire). It is situated facing NW near the top (at approx. 800 ft) of a very impressive steep escarpment below the
Ridgeway long distance footpath, Whitehorse hill and the Saxon hillfort of Uffington castle and above Dragon hill. There is
convenient parking nearby at Woolstone hill and at Whitehorse hill. This high locale makes the horse difficult to view from
close quarters (although it can be seen quite well from some parts of the B4507), it is seen rather better from most areas of
the Vale of the White Horse.
The best view is undoubtedly from the air, but lacking aerial capabilities the best view is from about 1 mile to the North,
although the view from Dragon hill is not bad. It is also the largest of the horses being some 374 feet in length and 110 feet
in height, constructed of trenches which are 5 to 10 feet in width and 2 to 3 feet deep and filled with chalk, this is a few feet
above the natural chalk of the hill. The horse is in excellent condition being maintained by the National Trust. The edges are
well defined partially consolidated with concrete (although well hidden) and the top edge reinforced with polypropylene
netting, the chalk white and well compacted and erosion repaired when necessary.
The horse was scoured on the 24th June 2000 for further details on this go to http://www.wayland.demon.co.
uk/whshow/whshow.htm
History.
The Uffington white horse is undoubtedly Britain’s oldest and most famous hill figure, which has recently been dated at
3000 years old by the Oxford Archeological Unit. 1000 years older than previously thought. This the oldest hill figure and
inspired the creation of many of the other white horses although and particularly its closeness to Uffington castle may have
inspired the creation of the first Westbury horse by Bratton camp, which also faced right. The earliest reference to it was in
in the 1070's when white horse hill was mentioned, the first actual reference to the horse itself was in 1190.
The horse is unique in its features, the horse being a very long sleek disjointed figure and this leads some to believe it
represents the mythical dragon that St. George slain on the adjacent Dragon hill or even his horse. However others believe
it represents a Celtic horse goddess Epona, known to represent fertility, healing and death. It may have been created to be
worshipped in religious ceremonies. Similar horses feature in Celtic jewelry and there is also evidence for horse worship in
the Iron Age. The scouring of the horse is believed to have been a religious festival in later times, giving more creditability to
the figure being of religious origin. Others believe that it commemorates Alfred’s victory over the Danes in 861 AD or
that it was created in the seventh century by Hengist in the image of a horse on his standard, however the recent scientific
data upon its age seem to discount these more modern theories. Several Iron age coins bearing representations of horses
very similar to the Uffington horse have been found and would support the theory of the horse being from an earlier period
than the seventh or eight centuries.
Also unusual is the fact that the horse faces to the right while all other horses and other animal hill figures face left, with three
exceptions, the very first Westbury horse, the Osmington horse and the more modern Bulford Kiwi. The earliest record of
the white horse is from Abingdon Abbey in the late 12th century, although white horse hill was mentioned a century earlier.
There are many records after this period with a very good historical record from the 18th century in which the horse has
changed little in appearance from then to the present day. There were occasions when the horse became overgrown, 1880
for example and was in danger of being lost like some of the other hill figures. There is no danger of this happening now,
with English Heritage caring for this Ancient monument.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________
General Information
National Grid Ref SU 305 865
The Uffington white horse can be found 1.5 miles due south of Uffington village on the Berkshire downs (although now in
Oxfordshire). It is situated facing NW near the top (at approx. 800 ft) of a very impressive steep escarpment below the
Ridgeway long distance footpath, Whitehorse hill and the Saxon hillfort of Uffington castle and above Dragon hill. There is
convenient parking nearby at Woolstone hill and at Whitehorse hill. This high locale makes the horse difficult to view from
close quarters (although it can be seen quite well from some parts of the B4507), it is seen rather better from most areas of
the Vale of the White Horse.
The best view is undoubtedly from the air, but lacking aerial capabilities the best view is from about 1 mile to the North,
although the view from Dragon hill is not bad. It is also the largest of the horses being some 374 feet in length and 110 feet
in height, constructed of trenches which are 5 to 10 feet in width and 2 to 3 feet deep and filled with chalk, this is a few feet
above the natural chalk of the hill. The horse is in excellent condition being maintained by the National Trust. The edges are
well defined partially consolidated with concrete (although well hidden) and the top edge reinforced with polypropylene
netting, the chalk white and well compacted and erosion repaired when necessary.
The horse was scoured on the 24th June 2000 for further details on this go to http://www.wayland.demon.co.
uk/whshow/whshow.htm
History.
The Uffington white horse is undoubtedly Britain’s oldest and most famous hill figure, which has recently been dated at
3000 years old by the Oxford Archeological Unit. 1000 years older than previously thought. This the oldest hill figure and
inspired the creation of many of the other white horses although and particularly its closeness to Uffington castle may have
inspired the creation of the first Westbury horse by Bratton camp, which also faced right. The earliest reference to it was in
in the 1070's when white horse hill was mentioned, the first actual reference to the horse itself was in 1190.
The horse is unique in its features, the horse being a very long sleek disjointed figure and this leads some to believe it
represents the mythical dragon that St. George slain on the adjacent Dragon hill or even his horse. However others believe
it represents a Celtic horse goddess Epona, known to represent fertility, healing and death. It may have been created to be
worshipped in religious ceremonies. Similar horses feature in Celtic jewelry and there is also evidence for horse worship in
the Iron Age. The scouring of the horse is believed to have been a religious festival in later times, giving more creditability to
the figure being of religious origin. Others believe that it commemorates Alfred’s victory over the Danes in 861 AD or
that it was created in the seventh century by Hengist in the image of a horse on his standard, however the recent scientific
data upon its age seem to discount these more modern theories. Several Iron age coins bearing representations of horses
very similar to the Uffington horse have been found and would support the theory of the horse being from an earlier period
than the seventh or eight centuries.
Also unusual is the fact that the horse faces to the right while all other horses and other animal hill figures face left, with three
exceptions, the very first Westbury horse, the Osmington horse and the more modern Bulford Kiwi. The earliest record of
the white horse is from Abingdon Abbey in the late 12th century, although white horse hill was mentioned a century earlier.
There are many records after this period with a very good historical record from the 18th century in which the horse has
changed little in appearance from then to the present day. There were occasions when the horse became overgrown, 1880
for example and was in danger of being lost like some of the other hill figures. There is no danger of this happening now,
with English Heritage caring for this Ancient monument.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________
The White Horse Ghost of Vallecito
Vallecito is famous for its ghosts. Its history contains many murders, deaths, robberies, and other wicked tales. One well
known story involves a double-murder at Vallecito Station. It all started with a stage hold up that yielded $65,000 worth of
loot to four men on horseback, who robbed the eastbound stage before it reached Carrizo Wash en route to Vallecito
Station.
As the men fled the scene, the driver of the stage fired one shot, killing one of the four men. When he reached the thief he
had shot, he found not one, but two dead bodies. The driver concluded that the leader of the band of thieves, had shot one
of his own men so he would not have to divide up the loot.
The bandit leader and one other thief survived the robbery and rode on to rest at Vallecito Station. Shortly before they
arrived at the station, they buried their loot in some nearby hills and rode on to the station for a drink and some food. It is
said that the two bandits were arguing while having a drink in the station. One of the bandits, the leader, went outside to
check on his horse promising to continue the discussion when he returned. He did return to the station, entering through the
doorway mounted on his big white horse, and shot his companion.
As the wounded bandit was dying, he drew his gun and fired back at the leader, killing him dead from the back of his brave
white mount. The white horse, spooked by the gun fire and death of his master, ran off into the hills. It is said that when
someone is in the valley around midnight, near the location where the bandits buried their loot, the ghost of a White Horse
will appear from nowhere, galloping through the sand and then disappearing without a trace.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________
Vallecito is famous for its ghosts. Its history contains many murders, deaths, robberies, and other wicked tales. One well
known story involves a double-murder at Vallecito Station. It all started with a stage hold up that yielded $65,000 worth of
loot to four men on horseback, who robbed the eastbound stage before it reached Carrizo Wash en route to Vallecito
Station.
As the men fled the scene, the driver of the stage fired one shot, killing one of the four men. When he reached the thief he
had shot, he found not one, but two dead bodies. The driver concluded that the leader of the band of thieves, had shot one
of his own men so he would not have to divide up the loot.
The bandit leader and one other thief survived the robbery and rode on to rest at Vallecito Station. Shortly before they
arrived at the station, they buried their loot in some nearby hills and rode on to the station for a drink and some food. It is
said that the two bandits were arguing while having a drink in the station. One of the bandits, the leader, went outside to
check on his horse promising to continue the discussion when he returned. He did return to the station, entering through the
doorway mounted on his big white horse, and shot his companion.
As the wounded bandit was dying, he drew his gun and fired back at the leader, killing him dead from the back of his brave
white mount. The white horse, spooked by the gun fire and death of his master, ran off into the hills. It is said that when
someone is in the valley around midnight, near the location where the bandits buried their loot, the ghost of a White Horse
will appear from nowhere, galloping through the sand and then disappearing without a trace.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________
The Heavenly Horse
Tiger Horses today trace their genetics to an ancient Siberian breed from the Steppe, the Don Region of Russia near the
China border and a horse once known as; "THE HEAVENLY HORSE"
This amazing wood carving is 1500 years old. It depicts the airborne figure of a "Heavenly Horse" from Siberia. It has four
normal legs moving laterally like those of many modern-day four-gaited breeds and it has four "spirit" legs indicating that it is
a "horse of the air" and therefore smooth to ride. This little horse is shown "flying without wings."
Eyes showing the sclera (whites like that of humans and modern day Tiger Horses,)its upraised tail and extended tongue
suggest speed and spirit. Now in Seoul South Korea this lovely work of art is currently on display in a museum. A mound
tomb has also been reconstructed and on the lintel above the entrance a simple carved inscription reads;
HEAVENLY HORSE"
While countless "Heavenly Horse" myths exist, petroglyphs and cave paintings attest to the probability that Heavenly
Horses did indeed once live and that they thrived near the Heavenly Mountain's region on the Siberia China border. TIGRE
believes the Tiger Horse would have been found amongst members of the Sogdian clan neighboring the Ferghana valley.
This beautiful work of art was carved on bark from the white Birch, a tree of the Steppe, a tree and a horse from much
farther north than the burial mound where it was found.
Still wearing a gold crown and lying in a mound tomb with the tree bark carving and skeletal remains of his beloved horse
was the embalmed body of a long dead "Shaman" or King. The tiny gold leaves dangling from his crown would surely have
chimed and shimmered as he passed before his spellbound subjects on his magnificent white horse. His Heavenly Tiger
Horse.
Tiger Horses today trace their genetics to an ancient Siberian breed from the Steppe, the Don Region of Russia near the
China border and a horse once known as; "THE HEAVENLY HORSE"
This amazing wood carving is 1500 years old. It depicts the airborne figure of a "Heavenly Horse" from Siberia. It has four
normal legs moving laterally like those of many modern-day four-gaited breeds and it has four "spirit" legs indicating that it is
a "horse of the air" and therefore smooth to ride. This little horse is shown "flying without wings."
Eyes showing the sclera (whites like that of humans and modern day Tiger Horses,)its upraised tail and extended tongue
suggest speed and spirit. Now in Seoul South Korea this lovely work of art is currently on display in a museum. A mound
tomb has also been reconstructed and on the lintel above the entrance a simple carved inscription reads;
HEAVENLY HORSE"
While countless "Heavenly Horse" myths exist, petroglyphs and cave paintings attest to the probability that Heavenly
Horses did indeed once live and that they thrived near the Heavenly Mountain's region on the Siberia China border. TIGRE
believes the Tiger Horse would have been found amongst members of the Sogdian clan neighboring the Ferghana valley.
This beautiful work of art was carved on bark from the white Birch, a tree of the Steppe, a tree and a horse from much
farther north than the burial mound where it was found.
Still wearing a gold crown and lying in a mound tomb with the tree bark carving and skeletal remains of his beloved horse
was the embalmed body of a long dead "Shaman" or King. The tiny gold leaves dangling from his crown would surely have
chimed and shimmered as he passed before his spellbound subjects on his magnificent white horse. His Heavenly Tiger
Horse.
folkloresandlegends http://www.burlingtonnews.net/folkloreandlegends
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