by Caroline Lawrence
In book XI of Virgil’s Aeneid a horse named Aethon weeps over his fallen master, the young Trojan warrior Pallas. (Aeneid XI 89-90)
The Romans loved their horses and we find their names on inscriptions, epigrams, souvenir beakers and even lead curse tablets. When I was researching my 12th Roman Mystery, The Charioteer of Delphi, I compiled a list.
Here are some of my favourite names from the list I compiled. Some of these might possibly to charioteers rather than horses as they were often listed side by side — as on the curse tablet below — but as in English there’s no reason a horse can’t have a “human name”. Or vice versa!
3rd century AD Greek curse tablet with a front view of a horse (or a demon?)
Abigeius (Cattle Rustler)
Achilles [name of a Greek hero]
Adamas (Rock Hard)
Admetus [name of a Greek hero]
Adorandus (Adorable)
Advocatus (Defender)
Aegyptus (Egyptian)
Aethon (Blaze)
Agilis (Nimble)
Agricola (Farmer)
Ajax [name of a Greek hero]
Alcides [= Hercules, a Greek hero]
Altus (Lofty)
Amandus (Darling)
Amicus (Pal)
Amor (Love)
Aquila (Eagle)
Aquilo (North Wind)
Astutus (Cunning)
Aureus (Golden)
Ballista (Missile)
Basilius (Kinglike)
Blandus (Charming)
Bubalus (Gazelle)
Caesarius (Like Caesar)
Calimorfus (Beauty)
Campus (Field)
Candidus (White)
Castor [name of a mythological twin]
Caucasus (from the Caucasus mountains)
Catta (Pussycat)
Celer (Swift)
Cirratus (Curly Locks)
Corinthus (Corinthian)
Cupido (Eager)
Cursor (Runner)
Darius [name of a Persian]
Delicatus (Pretty Boy)
Dignus (Worthy)
Dilectus (Pet)
Diomedes [name of a Greek hero]
Dominator (Boss)
Dromos (Racer)
Elpis (Hope)
Farus (Lighthouse)
Fastidiosus (Choosy)
Felicissimus (Very Lucky)
Ferox (Fierce)
Frunitus (Jolly)
Gallus (Rooster)
Garrulus (Chatty)
Gemmula (Little Jewel)
Glaucus (Grey)
Halieus (Fisher)
Hiberus (Spaniard)
Hipparchus (Chief)
Hirpinus (from Hirpina, region in Campania)
Icarus [name of the Greek boy who flew and fell]
Inachus [a river in the Argolid]
Incitatus (Bounce)
Indus [name of a river in India]
Ingenuus (Native)
Italus (Italian)
Iuvenis (Laddy)
Lampas (Torch)
Laureatus (Celebrated)
Latro (Robber)
Leo (Lion)
Lucidus (Bright)
Lues (Calamity)
Lupus (Wolf)
Macedo (Macedonian)
Maculosus (Piebald)
Mirandus (Wonderful)
Muccosus (Snotty)
Nauta (Sailor Boy)
Nereus [name of a sea god]
Olympus (from Olympus)
Palmatus (Receiver of the Palm Branch)
Palumbus (Dove)
Parasitus (Toady)
Paratus (Ready)
Pardus (Leopard)
Passerinus (Sparrow)
Patricius (Aristocrat)
Pegasus [name of a mythological flying horse]
Pelops [name of a Greek hero]
Penna (Feather)
Pertinax (Contant)
Phoebus (Bright)
Phosphorus (Morning-star)
Pollux [name of a mythical twin]
Polyneices (Many Victories)
Praeclarus (Renown)
Puerina (Girly)
Pullentianus (Dusky)
Purpureus (Roan)
Pyrobolus (Flame-Thrower)
Regalis (Regal)
Regnator (Emperor)
Roma (Rome)
Romanus (Roman)
Roseus (Bay)
Sagitta (Arrow)
Scholasticus (Studious)
Sica (Blade)
Sidereus (Starry)
Speciosus (Handsome)
Speudosa (Speedy)
Spumosus (Foamy)
Socrates (Greek philosopher)
Sol (Sun)
Tigris (Tiger)
Titas (Titan)
Valens (Powerful)
Verbosus (Chatterbox)
Victor (Winner)
Volens (Willing)
Volucer (Flyer)