Arabians in the Architecture: Historiographic Implications of Misidentification

The Arabian, or more correctly, Arab horse, is widely acknowledged to be one of the most influential horse breeds in the world. Enthusiasts of the breed admire its beauty and its quality of endurance. They also frequently claim it has a long and influential history, some suggesting this dates back to the days of the kings of Egypt, if not beyond. It is the historiographical aspect with which this paper intends to engage, arguing that some key examples currently identified as Arab(ian) horses are not Arabs at all. This has created long-standing issues with the literature on the breed and its history, as well as affecting our understanding of the origins of other breeds.