If you are wandering around Paris this summer, here is a little piece of useless information that you may like to throw into a conversation and use to impress your travelling buddies.
The story goes that statues of well known figures on horseback can tell you how that person died. If the horse is rearing up on its back legs, then the horseman died in battle; if the horse has one leg raised then the rider succumbed to battle wounds and if the horse is standing firmly on all four feet then the one in the saddle passed quietly in his bed.
Unfortunately, verification of history books reveals that the information is largely unfounded, but it is a little urban legend that I have always found amusing; maybe revealing more about the rider's desire for glory than his fearlessness at war!
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Nothing like urban myths to create some interest. I loved Paris and can't wait to visit again next year.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to use that little tidbit Sharon. We have a large statue on our front hall table, one leg raised. This is going to be fun! More please.... :)
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful lunch in Paris.. xx
Fascinating legend - I will definitely be using that little snippet of knowledge around the dinner table! Paula x
ReplyDeleteI could only hope to be wondering around Paris this summer!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove this... I don't care if it's fact or fiction... it's a great conversation point.... xv
ReplyDeleteWe are about to head out for our trip to Normandy - following your blog has really gotten me excited about this part of France - see my blog today where I do tribute to yours - thank you!!
ReplyDeleteGerrie
Ooh! Now I am going to pull my photos from Italy and see who did what! Thank you for that fun piece of info!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! We saw many riders on horseback while we wandered Paris last week - next time I'll have to look a bit closer with this little tidbit of information in mind!
ReplyDeleteI love those buses where you can sit on top and really see all of it!
ReplyDeleteI love that explanation! If only it were true... I'm not in Paris this summer but I'll take more notice of the statues around London now!
ReplyDeleteInteresting bit of folklore. It gives you something to think about.
ReplyDeleteOh, Sharon, I laughed aloud as I began to read your post, "If you are wandering around Paris this summer..." HOW MUCH I WISH!!! (If you knew my life right now...) Thank you for posting so frequently with such varied and interesting subjects. You are one of my greatest stress-relievers and the top of my "Favorites" list on the computer.
ReplyDeleteLOVELY POST:) I really like your blog and I following you..I hope you will follow me back:)
ReplyDeleteIn my new post I have some french things:)
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
(Sweden)
How funny is that! ((: thanks perhaps my son will find my history knowledge interesting now... XO z
ReplyDeleteIntriguing story! When i was a girl we lived in Orleans and in the center of town is a famous statue of Joan of Arc (we army folk nicknamed it 'Joani on the Pony.') I just went and looked at a picture to see the horse's position, and it has its front leg raised. I suppose being burned at the stake would qualify as battle wounds, wouldn't you say?
ReplyDeleteThe story makes the statures all the more interesting! thanks for the history lesson...
ReplyDeleteI live in Oregon "the west" and the same hold true here. Being the home of the Pendleton Round-up, we have several mounted statues and the lore holds true in our little town.
ReplyDeleteAs always, love your posts.
LadyLocust