Role in the ancient world
Fiery war horses with
dished faces and high-carried tails were popular artistic
subjects in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, often depicted
pulling chariots in war or for hunting. Horses with
oriental characteristics appear in artwork as far north as
that of Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. While the
horse wasn't called an "Arabian" in the Ancient Near East
until later, (the word "Arabia" itself only first appeared
in writings by the ancient Persians, circa 500 B.C.) these
"proto-Arabian" or "Oriental" horses shared many
characteristics with the modern Arabian, including speed,
endurance, and refinement. A horse skeleton was unearthed
in the Sinai peninsula, dated to 1700 B.C., and is
considered the earliest physical evidence of the horse in
Ancient Egypt. It was probably brought by the Hyksos
invaders. This horse had a wedge-shaped head, large eye
socket and small muzzle, all characteristics of the Arabian
horse.