FRENUM
FRENUM (
χαλινός), a bridle,
including the bit, headstall, and reins. It was properly the bit as distinct
from the reins (
ἡνίαι); but in Xenophon
(
de Re Eq. 6.7), where he is instructing the groom in the
mode of putting it on,
χαλινὸς is the whole
bridle, the several parts of it the
ἡνίαι,
στόμιον, and head-piece (
κορυφαία). So, in Latin,
frena in
the plural is used for the whole bridle. The invention was mythically
ascribed to Athena, who gave it to Bellerophon as the means of subduing
Pegasus (
Pind. O. 13.85 ff.). The annexed
woodcut, from an
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Pegasus receiving the bridle.
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antique, represents the winged horse submitting to receive it as
he slaked his thirst at the fountain of Peirene. In reference to this event,
Athena was worshipped at Corinth under the titles
Ἱππία and
Χαλινῖτις
(
Paus. 2.4, § § 1, 5). The
several parts of the bridle, more especially the bit, are engraved from
ancient authorities in the treatises of Invernizi (
de
Frenis), Ginzrot (
Ueber Wagen und Fahrowerke),
and Bracy Clark (
Chalinology, Lond. 1835). Illustrations have
been already given under AMPYX, CARPENTUM, CLITELLAE,
CURRUS, and EPHIPPIA; to these we add a
beautiful specimen from the Castellani Collection in the British Museum.
This is of bronze, and was found in Southern Italy; it is believed to date
from pre-historic times, and shows the high antiquity of the ornamental
bridles described below [cf.
CATENA].
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Ancient bronze bridle. (British Museum.)
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The bit (
στόμιον, Xen.
l.c., Aesch.
Prom. 1009; rarely
δῆγμα, Brunck,
Anal. 2.237 =
Anth. Pal. 6.233: in Latin
frenum is the only word in use, but
oreae is quoted from Titinius, ap. Fest. s. v.) was commonly made
of several pieces, and flexible, so as not to hurt the horse's mouth; for
the Greeks considered a kind and gentle treatment the best discipline,
although, when the horse was intractable, they taught it submission by means
of a curb armed with sharp points. Xenophon recommends the use of two bits,
a snaffle (
λεῖος χαλινός) and a curb
(
ὁ ἕτερος), the latter with sharp
prickles (
ἐχῖνοι,
op. cit. 10.6). From the resemblance to wolves'
teeth, a bit of this kind was called
lupatum in
Latin (
Verg. G. 3.208;
Hor. Carm. 1.8.7;
Ov.
Amor. 1.2, 15). The bit was held in its place
by a strap (
ὑποχαλινιδία, sc.
ἡνία), or a curb-chain (
ψάλιον,
Aristoph. Peace 155); a halter or
thong, distinct from the reins, was sometimes fastened to this chain or
strap by means of a ring, and was used to lead the horse (
ῥυταγωγεύς: all three words in Xen. 7.1). The
upper part of the bridle, by which it was fastened behind the ears, is
called by Xenophon
κορυφαία (3.2; 6.7), and
it included the
AMPYX which was
often ornamental. The cheek-pieces (
παρήϊον,
Hom. Il. 4.142;
παραγναθίδιον, Eustath.
ad . loc.),
which joined this headstall to the bit, were also in some cases richly
adorned, especially among the nations of Asia; in the passage of Homer the
material is stained ivory. The bit, which, though commonly of bronze or
iron, was sometimes silver or gold (
χρυσοχαλίνων
πάταγον ψαλίων, Aristoph.
l.c.; fulvum
mandunt sub dentibus aurum,
[p. 1.877]Verg. A. 7.279).
These precious metals were also either embossed (
frena
caelata, Apul.
de Deo Socr. p. 54 Elm. = 173
Oud.), or set with jewels (
gemmata monilia, on
the horse of Honorius, Claud.
Epigr. 18, 9 = 23, 9).
Not only was the bridle dispensed with in the management of creatures
invented by the imagination of the poet (Aesch.
Prom. 287),
but of some which were actually trained by man to go without it. Thus the
Numidian
DESULTOR guided his
two horses by the whip, and the Gallic ESSEDARIUS,
on the banks of the Rhone, directed and animated his mules entirely by the
voice (
frenorumque vicem lingua virilis agit,
Claud.
Epigr. 1, 10).
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J.Y] [
W.W]