A 3,000-year-old child's toy

Abstract

We present the oldest children's toy in Europe, the clay horse of Lefkandi (tenth to ninth century BC), which was found on the western coast of the island of Euboea in Greece. This remarkable 3,000-year-old toy, carrying not a warrior but a pair of amphoras, does not promote violence and it rather enhances creativity, coordination, and an understanding of the mechanics of wheeled vehicles. © Springer-Verlag 2012.