Bucephalus - Scared of his own shadow

@JudyEv (325693)
Rockingham, Australia
March 19, 2017 12:40am CST
Miranda Hunt (@Brittnyrose) wrote recently about her dog being scared of her shadow which brought to mind the saying about being 'scared of their own shadow'. Another animal that was scared of its own shadow was Bucephalus, the revered mount of Alexander the Great. It's a bit unfortunate that the name means 'ox-head' but some references say this refers to a branding mark on the horse's haunch. However he is described as a massive horse with a large head, black in colour with a large white star between the eyes, one of which was 'blue' or a 'wall eye'. The legend, told by Plutarch in 344 BC, tells that Bucephalus was offered to Alexander's father, King Philip II but, because no-one had been able to tame the animal, the king was not interested in paying out the high price of 13 talents. Alexander, aged 12 or 13, made a bet with his father that he could subdue Bucephalus. He turned the horse's head toward the sun so their shadows fell behind them, gained the animal's trust and the rest, as they say, is history. Bucephalus carried Alexander to victory in many a battle. I have a photo of a sculpture which stands in Edinburgh in Scotland. I thought at first it was Alexander and Bucephalus. Edited: It is of the Duke of Wellington mounted on his favourite charger Copenhagen. If you'd like to see more sculptures of horses, let me know. I have more than you could poke a stick at. And perhaps @LoriAMoore could tell us where THAT saying came from.
16 people like this
14 responses
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
19 Mar 17
The chap looks like the Duke of Wellington, but I am not sure of his connection to Scotland. If it is the Duke, then the horse would be Copenhagen
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
I took photos of so many horse statues but should have added shots of the inscriptions as well. Some were hard to photograph from ground level but Vince wouldn't let me hire a cherry-picker! Thanks for the info.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
@Ronrybs It's okay. One of these days, he'll come up with it as his idea then it will be full steam ahead.
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17849)
• London, England
19 Mar 17
@JudyEv A bit narrowed minded, cherry pickers are essential for photography!
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
19 Mar 17
Interesting story. Lovely statue/sculpture....but I've not heard the saying ....poke a stick at.....our version is ....shake a stick...
4 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
And I don't recall hearing 'shake a stick'. Another difference between us! LOL
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
19 Mar 17
You must have a very large selection because I can poke a stick at a vast number of pictures of horses.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
19 Mar 17
@JudyEv It was buckets of exaggeration.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
@Asylum Are we talking big buckets or little beach buckets?
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
Maybe I exaggerated just a tad.
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Mar 17
We have the same expression in French but I did not knew that it was coming from Alexander the Great. It seems very plausible. I remember to have seen this statue. The rider is the duke of Wellington.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
I doubt the saying came from this story but it does suit it well. Thanks for the info on the statue too. There is one of Bucephalus in Edinburgh but I don't seem to have a photo of it.
2 people like this
@Beatburn (4287)
• Philippines
26 Mar 17
In early times, man's best friend was his horse.
2 people like this
@Beatburn (4287)
• Philippines
29 Mar 17
@JudyEv Here as well.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Apr 17
@Beatburn Did they really? I didn't know the Philippines used horses much. I thought it would have been more water-buffalo or bullocks.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Mar 17
That's for sure and horses played a huge role in developing the agricultural lands of Australia.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Mar 17
I have been to Edinburgh but do not recall that particular statue. Was it from the castle?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
It is in front of Register House at the eastern end of Princess Street, looking up the North Bridge. It was created in 1852 in bronze by John Steell.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
@JohnRoberts I've corrected it to 'Princess Street'. So you don't recall seeing it?
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Mar 17
@JudyEv My hotel was on Princess Street.
2 people like this
@horsesrule (1957)
• United States
6 Aug 17
One of my favorite horse stories, always loved reading about it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Aug 17
There are some great legends out there, aren't there?
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48927)
• United States
19 Mar 17
What a detailed statue I love it.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48927)
• United States
20 Mar 17
@JudyEv I found the statues in Europe particularly detailed. Mississippi is lacking in this area
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
I took photos of horse statues all over the place but mostly I don't know who they are! I'm really only interested in the horses!
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Mar 17
I dont get why the turn would help, I guess the assumption was that it was really the shadow he was afraid of, so odd.
2 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
20 Mar 17
@JudyEv basically yeah
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
Yes, he was scared of the shadow moving on the ground. It makes a great legend but the horse couldn't have spent his whole previous life with his back to the sun.
2 people like this
@Fleura (29127)
• United Kingdom
19 Mar 17
As others have said, that is the Duke of Wellington on Copenhagen. As for the saying, we say 'more than you could shake a stick at' but I don't know where it comes from. If you try it though you'll find you can't poke or shake a stick all that quickly!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
Thanks I've corrected the text now. I wish I could find my photo of Bucephalus but it's hiding at the moment.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
4 Apr 17
I was happy to see your post come up about Bucephalus. This is what I'm talking about, when I finally started paying attention to the "you might also like" column. Great article. I'm glad I found it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Apr 17
Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed it. I sometimes go to the sidebar suggestions too.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
19 Mar 17
I've seen that in Copenhagen and have a photo of it at home, of course. Otherwise, I'd show it to you.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Aug 17
What? You didn't think to take it with you?
@kobesbuddy (74550)
• East Tawas, Michigan
7 Aug 17
My sister visited Finland, but she never went to Denmark.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74550)
• East Tawas, Michigan
6 Aug 17
@JudyEv This was a wonderful little history lesson, I loved it, Judy:) Yes, I'd like to see more photos and I won't poke a stick at them!:( lol My Dad's family came from Scotland.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Aug 17
I took dozens of photos like this but of course you can only really take them from more or less underneath so you don't get a really good photo. Here's another one from Scotland. Pity about the pigeons leaving their offerings.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74550)
• East Tawas, Michigan
7 Aug 17
@JudyEv Awesome:) Those pigeons are just trying to get in the photo! lol
@Brittnyrose (1445)
• Aberdeen, North Carolina
20 Mar 17
Wow what I great topic I never knew about "ox head"
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325693)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
It's an insulting name really, isn't it?
2 people like this
• Aberdeen, North Carolina
26 Mar 17
@JudyEv lol yeah it is
2 people like this