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Document Details : Title: The Antiquity and Nature of Horseshoeing in Iran Author(s): POTTS, D.T. Journal: Iranica Antiqua Volume: 58 Date: 2023 Pages: 243-280 DOI: 10.2143/IA.58.0.3292999 Abstract : It has long been recognized that the so-called ‘Oriental horseshoe’ encountered by Western travellers and military personnel in the Middle East, including Iran, differed from the standard European, rim-like horseshoe in consisting of a thin plate of metal secured to the base of the horse’s hoof. This study examines the literary and historical evidence for the Oriental horseshoe considering a range of Late Antique and mediaeval Islamic, as well as later sources. The efficacy of the Oriental horseshoe and its iconographic representation are examined. Examples in Western collections and the experiences of 19th and early 20th century military officers are described, attesting to the important differences between the European and Oriental-style of horseshoe. This important piece of material culture, which is almost never discussed in treatments of equine husbandry or military history in the Near East, deserves consideration by anyone interested in the management and deployment of cavalry in ancient and pre-modern Iran. |
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