Bucephalus (brand)

Bucephalus (brand)

Bucephalus (Gr "ox-headed", from "polytonic|βους", "ox", and "polytonic|κεφαλή", "head") was a type of branding mark anciently used on horses. It was one of the three most common, besides "Ϻ", San, and "Ϙ", Koppa. Those horses marked with a San were called "Σαμφόραι", Samphorai; those with a Koppa, "polytonic|Κοππατίαι", Koppatiai; and those with an ox's head, "Βουκέφαλοι", Bucephali.

This mark was stamped on the horse's buttocks, and his harnesses, as appears from the scholiast on Aristophanes's "The Clouds", Hesychius, etc.


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  • Bucephalus — For the branding mark anciently used on horses, see Bucephalus (brand). Bucephalus or Buchephalas (Ancient Greek: polytonic|Βουκέφαλος, from polytonic|βούς bous , ox and polytonic|κεφαλή kephalē , head meaning ox head ) (c. 355 BC ndash; June,… …   Wikipedia

  • Bucephalus — Alexander the Great s favorite horse, from Gk. Boukephalos, lit. Ox head, from bous ox + kephale head. Men called [him] Bucephalus ... of the marke or brand of a buls head, which was imprinted vpon his shoulder. [Pliny, I.220, tr. Holland, 1601] …   Etymology dictionary

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