Horse
Mythology

The horse has always been part of the lore of ancient times. No one knows when the horse was first domesticated, but it was probably over 5000 years ago. Since horses have always been part of early civilizations, there have always been magical horses. Below is a listing of mythical horses through the world, and throughout the ages. Explore the Immortal Horses of different times and regions.

Greek and Roman Horse Mythology

Arion The immortal, winged, black horse named Arion was a son of the goddess Demeter and Poseidon. When Demeter lost her daughter Persephone to Hades she was inconsolable during the 6 months that Persephone had to reside in the underworld. So to get some peace she turned herself into a mare and grazed with the herd belonging to Oncus, a son f Apollo. Poseidon admired Demeter and knew her in her guise of a mare and so turned himself into a stallion and mated with her to sire Arion. He was used by several of the heroes of the day, including Adrastus and Herakles (Hercules) as well as his first owner Oncus. Herakles borrowed Arion from Oncus to help him during the sack of the city of Eris and during his 12 Labors for Eurystheus, king of Tiryns. Herakles in turn gave Arion to King Adrastus. Adrastus managed to escape his ill-fated attack upon Thebes only by the speed of Arion. Later Arion is known to have sired famous offspring. Sthenelos was riding a son of Arion when he fought at Troy.

Ares The war god Ares, or Mars if you prefer, drove a chariot pulled by 4 immortal, fire breathing horses that could travel anywhere there was a conflict. Their names were Aithon (red fire), Konabos (tumult), Phlegios (flame) and Phobos (panic fear) the four were sired by the North Wind Boreas on one of the Erinyes, the goddesses of the Underworld.

Balios and Xanthus were two very swift, immortal horses sired by the wind god Zephyrus upon the harpy Podarge. They were first gifted to the hero Castor by Hera, and then to Peleus by Poseidon. The two drew the chariot of Peleus' son Achilles in the Trojan War. It was said that both horses wept at the death of their beloved charioteer Patrocles on the battlefield. It was written that Xanthos spoke and prophesied the death of Achilles, and this did come to pass.

Diomedes, a son of Ares and Cyrene, was the king of a tribe named the Bistones in Thrace. He was famous for having a herd of man-eating mares. Herakles (Hercules) was sent to capture the mares for his 8th labour. He did bring them back to Mycenae and the king Eurysthenes set them free. They eventually settled on Mount Olympus and were eaten one by one by wild animals.

Harpagos and Phlogeos were two full brothers to Balius and Xanthus. The god Hermes gifted them to the Dioskouroi twins. They bore the twins even after their apotheosis into gods. They were eventually known as the constellation Gemini.

Helios (Apollo) was the god of the sun and everyday he drove a chariot across the sky. His horses were winged, immortal and very strong and powerful. They were named Phlegon, Euos, Sterope and Bronte and were sired by the four winds. There do seem to be several alternate names as well, Abraxus, Pyros, Theebreeo and Aethon. Phaethon was a son of Helios and Clymene but did not find out he was the son of a god until he was a youth; wanting to know his father he traveled to Olympus to meet him. Helios agreed that Phaethon was his son and granted him a boon. Phaethon replied that he wanted to drive the chariot of the sun. Helios tried to dissuade the young man as the journey was very dangerous and the horses were very strong. Phaethon would not be persuaded and so with a heavy heart Helios gave him the reins and much advice on how to drive the chariot without getting into trouble. However Phaethon was just not strong enough to control the horses and the chariot was out of control. It came too near the earth and started to dry up the rivers and oceans and burn the land. The other gods cried for help and Zeus went to the mountaintop and fired one of his thunderbolts at Phaethon. The bolt flew true and Phaethon was struck dead and fell to the earth.

Hippocampus has the forequarters of a horse and the later half of a fish. They were often portrayed pulling the sea chariot of the god Poseidon (aka Neptune).

Hippogriff is a cross between a horse and a gryphon, usually having the head and body of a horse and the rest of a gryphon. A gryphon is usually a cross between a lion and an eagle in appearance.

Lampos and Phaithon are the team that pulled the chariot of Eos, goddess of the dawn.

Poseidon is the god of earthquakes, the sea and horses. It was said that Poseidon created the horse from the waves of the sea in a contest to be the patron god of the major city in Greece. Poseidon and Athena agreed to create something that was the most useful to the people and whoever won the contest would be the patron god. Poseidon presented the horse and his usefulness in war. Athena produced the olive tree, with its fruit to be eaten and its wonderful oil that could be used for so many things. Athena was declared the winner and so today we visit the city of Athens, not Poseidon! Poseidon is also the sire of several of the immortal horse including the most famous, Pegasus.

Zeus is the major god; his chariot was pulled by the four wind gods in their guise of winged horses. Boreas is the North Wind, Euros is the East Wind, Notos is the South Wind and Zephyrus is the West Wind. The four winds were responsible for siring many of the immortal horse in Greco Roman mythology.

Written and researched by Jorge Desjardins