Said Rzewuski: “Woznah: La fondatrice de cette race très fameuse par ses qualités pour la guerre fut dans l’ère nommée la Djahélieh (le paganisme) consacrée a l’étoile qui précède, de pair avec une autre, le lever de Canope. Race très antique et précieuse. Anti-prophétique. Rarissime. Forte membrée. D’origine des environs de La Mecque.” In English: “Woznah: The foundation mare of this strain renowned for its qualities in warfare was, in the era called Jahiliyyah (paganism), dedicated to the star that precedes, along with another, the rising of Canopus. A very ancient and precious strain. Anti-prophetic. Extremely rare. Big boned. Originating from the vicinity of Mecca.” The “rising of Canopus” refers to the annual reappearance in the late summer of the star Canopus (Suhayl in Arabic, the second brightest star in the sky). In Arabia and the Middle East in general, the pre-sunrise rising of Canopus signaled the end of intense summer heat and the beginning of cooler weather. This annual event was a major cultural marker for Bedouin and farmers. The annual “rising of Canopus” is preceded by the rising of Sirius (in Arabic al-Shi’ra al-Yamaniyyah, the brightest star in the sky), itself preceded by the rise of Procyon (al-Sh’ira al-Shamiyyah,…