Many [[Indo-European]] branches show evidence for horse sacrifice, and comparative mythology suggests that they derive from a [[PIE ritual]]. The Ashvamedha is the clearest evidence preserved, but vestiges from Latin and Celtic traditions allow the reconstruction of a few common attributes.
The Gaulish personal name ''Epomeduos'' is from ''*ek'wo-medhu-'' "horse+mead", while ''ashvamedha'' is either from ''*ek'wo-mad-dho-'' "horse+drunk" or ''*ek'wo-mey-dho-'' "horse+strength". The reconstructed myth involves the coupling of a king with a divine mare which produced the [[divine twins]]. Some scholars, including [[Edgar Polomé]], regard the reconstruciton of a PIE ritual as unjustified due to the difference between the attested traditions ([[EIEC]] s.v. ''Horse'', p. 278).
