The Nisean horse, or Nisaean horse, is an extinct horse breed, once native to the town of Nisaia, located in the Nisaean plains at the foot of the southern region of the Zagros Mountains, Iran. [1] The first written reference to the Nisean horse was in around 430 BCE, in Herodotus' Histories:

Dec 3, 2024 · The Chinese called the breed the tien ma – heavenly horse or Soulon-vegetarian dragon. The Nisean was the most valuable horse in the ancient world. Some were spotted, like a leopard or, as golden as a newly minted coin.

Aug 11, 2009 · The Nisean Horse Breed is an extinct horse breed, once native to the town of Nisaia. Located in the Nisaean Plains at the foot of the souther region of the Zagros Mountains. They were highly sought after in the ancient world.

The Ferghana horse is also known as the "heavenly horse" in China or the Nisean horse in the West. [3][4] The Han dynasty Emperor Wudi sent a huge military expedition to Ferghana in 104 B.C. to acquire a sufficient number of "Heavenly Horses". The Han suffered a military defeat and went home empty handed. [5]

Sep 26, 2020 · The now extinct breed originated from the Nisaean Plains in the southern region of the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Chinese called these horses Tien Ma meaning Heavenly Horse or Soulon-Vegetarian dragon. The Nisean was considered the most beautiful horse alive and used to pull Shah’s royal chariot.

Herodotus and Ctesias attest to the practice of hippomancy (divination by horse), which continued into the Sasanian era. [3] According to Herodotus' Histories, the Nisean horse was considered sacred in the 5th century BC. [4] Darius exploited this Persian belief in hippomancy to ensure his royal legitimacy. [5]

Apr 7, 2020 · The horse was a favorite artistic subject in ancient Iran, where horsebreeding flourished. This muscular Sasanian stallion was descended from the royal and sacred Nisean breed of the Achaemenian Persians.

In ancient times, they were also known as the Nisean horse, the highly sought after royal mounts of Persia. The Romans, Chinese, and Scythians are all believed to have fought and traded for the “Heavenly Argamak”, or the “Heavenly Horse”–a term for the breed that is still used by hippologists today.

They were most often called the Turkoman, Turkmen, or Turk horse, for the Turkic tribes of their Middles Ages homeland. In ancient times, they were also known as the Nisean horse, the highly sought after royal mounts of Persia ( source ).

Jun 8, 2023 · Very interesting, and this person believes that the Nisean horse breed is not extinct at all, but remains in very much the original form in Iran. Similar to Andalusians, which are indeed a beautiful and striking breed.