This article is about skulls historically concealed in buildings. For the skull of the horse, see Skeletal system of the horse.
Skull of a horse
In Ireland, England, Wales, and the Scandinavian Peninsula, horse skulls have been found concealed in the structures of buildings, usually under the foundation or floor.[1][2][3] Horse skulls have also been found in buildings in the United States, although in far fewer numbers.[4] As part of the larger folk tradition of concealing objects in structures, horse skulls are related to concealed shoes, dried cats, and witch bottles.
There are two main theories as to the reason for depositing the horse skulls in buildings: as a method for enhancing the acoustics of a room, such as in a church or in a threshing barn; or as a method for repelling evil spirits such as witches and ghosts.[1]
Scandinavian Peninsula, horseskulls have been found concealed in the structures of buildings, usually under the foundation or floor. Horseskulls have also been...
BCE. The earliest evidence suggesting horses were ridden dates to about 3500 BCE, where evidence from horseskulls found at site in Kazakhstan indicated...
objects such as written charms (known as apotropaic marks), dried cats, horseskulls, and witch bottles in the structure of a building, but concealed shoes...
are meant to represent the horse (or other animal) itself. They have a head made of wood, or sometimes an actual horse'sskull is used; it usually has hinged...
including amphorae, pottery fragments, shells, pieces of bone, horseskulls, and nine human skulls found in a bag, dating back to 6000 BC. Various findings...
can be problematical, as early taxidermists sometimes used donkey and horseskulls inside their mounts when the originals were unavailable. The quagga is...
household from witchcraft. These included specially-prepared witch bottles, horseskulls and the bodies of dried cats, as well as shoes (see concealed shoes)...
The skeletal system of the horse is a skeletal system of a horse that has three major functions in the body. It protects vital organs, provides framework...
a common custom to hide objects such as written charms, dried cats, horseskulls, concealed shoes, and witch bottles in the structure of a building. Folk...
rigid and stiff skulls. Despite the differences, studies have shown the two types handled prey similarly, while the more rigid skulls and resulting larger...
senior year I joined Skull and Bones, a secret society; so secret, I can't say anything more." The Skulls (2000) and The Skulls II (2002) films are based...
anti-witch marks, witch bottles, witch balls, and burying objects such as horseskulls inside the walls of buildings. Another believed cure for bewitchment...
Wales. The tradition entails the use of an eponymous hobby horse which is made from a horse'sskull mounted on a pole and carried by an individual hidden under...
Maylam noted that the use of a horse'sskull was not impossible, for such skulls had also been used in the hobby horse traditions of other parts of Britain...
place where the bones lay. When he touched the horse'sskull with his boot a snake slithered from the skull and bit him. Oleg died, thus fulfilling the prophecy...
Sweden, split his skull when his horse stumbled and fell. Emily Davison, English suffragette, threw herself in front of the King's horse at the Derby in...
amphorae, pottery fragments, shells, pieces of bone and horseskulls, and nine human skulls found in a bag, dating back to 6,000 BCE. Glass artefacts...
courtyard. The fence around Baba Yaga's dwelling is decorated with human or horseskulls. In addition to the hut in the yard there is a barn with bins for wheat...
Emperor Leo the Wise underlines the importance of horses to their military tactics. Analysis of horseskulls found in Hungarian warriors graves has not revealed...
anti-witch marks, witch bottles, witch balls, and burying objects such as horseskulls inside the walls of buildings. People believed that bewitchment could...
Equestrianism (from Latin equester, equestr-, equus, 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American...
rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols. The horse in Nordic mythology is the most important animal in terms of its role, both...
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