ATHON (pnt.o. This word is rendered she ass in the A. V., but unsatisfactorily, unless we suppose it to refer to a breed of greater beauty and importance than the common, namely, the silver gray of Africa ; which being large and indocile, the females were anciently selected in preference for riding, and on that account formed a valuable kind of property. From early ages a white breed of this race was reared at Zobeir, the ancient Bas sora, and capital of the Orcheni, from which place civil dignitaries still obtain their white asses and white mules. It is now the fashion, as it was during the Parthian empire, and probably in the time of the Judges, to dapple this breed with spots of orange or crimson or of both colours together ; and we agree with the Editor of the Pictorial Bible (note on Judg. v. so) that this is the meaning of the word nny Tzachor (chequered ?) ; an interpre tation which is confirmed by the Babylonian San hcdrim, who, in answer to King Sapor's offer of a horse to convey the Jewish Messiah, say : `non est tibi equus centimaculus, qualis est ejus (Messiw) asinus.' Horses and asses thus painted occur fre
quently in Oriental illuminated MSS., and although the taste may be puerile, we conceive that it is the record of remote conquest achieved by a nation of Central Asia mounted on spotted or clouded horses, and revived by the Parthians, who were similarly equipped. See Introduction to Hist. of Horse and the Tangunz Horse, Naturalist's Library, vol. xii. No other primaeval invasion from the east by horsemen on Tzachor animals than that of the so-called Centaurs is recorded : their era coincides nearly with that of the Judges.—C. H. S.