Since the beginning of humankind, horses have played a significant role in our culture and society. Since ancient times, their beauty, grace, and strength have inspired us. They have helped us with transportation, battle, and farming. We will look at some of the myths and legends surrounding these horses.
Horses from religious and Greek myth
Each horse has a different meaning in the Christian religion. The Book of Revelation mentions War, Conquest Death and Famine as bringing us the final judgement at the end of the days. Some say the horses’ colours are yellow, red and white, and that they represent events from early Christian history. However, it is more commonly accepted that these horses are prophetic images of natural dangers.
Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the best-known mythological horses. It comes from Greek mythology. The white winged horse was sired by Poseidon, and helped defeat the Chimera along with the hero Bellerophon. Zeus immortalised his horse by turning him into a constellation in the sky. Pegasus has been a familiar figure throughout history, appearing in paintings, poems, and songs.
Legendary horses from Norse and Hindu myth
Sleipnir
Sleipnir was the perfect horse for the King of the Norse Gods. Sleipnir was an eight-legged horse with such incredible power, nothing on Earth could slow him. According to Norse legend, he was the greatest horse of all and could travel to hell in order to rescue Hermod’s brother. According to Norse mythology, he was the most magnificent horse and fit for an exceptional king. If you love horses, why not consider Bronze Horse Sculptures from Gill Parker?
Unpronounceable but with no less than 7 heads, this animal is unique. This pure white horse was assigned to serve the Hindu god-king or Indra. In other myths, he is also said to have served Bali, the demon king. According to Hindu texts, this seven-headed animal was created out of a milky ocean along with the elixir for life and goddess of fortune.
The enduring myth of the unicorn
Unicorn
Plenty of people around the globe wish these unicorns were real. Unicorns have a beautiful, graceful appearance and a single horn at the front of their heads. While they don’t have a specific colour, unicorns are usually depicted in pure white, with their mane, horns, or blood being regarded as magical. Unicorns have been said to possess healing powers, and they often appear in medieval heraldic symbols. People have believed in unicorns throughout history and are even mentioned in ancient texts such as the Bible.
Summary
This article looks at horses from myth and legend across different cultures. It covers the Four Horses of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation, Pegasus from Greek mythology, the eight-legged Norse horse Sleipnir, the seven-headed Hindu horse Uchchaihshravas, and the unicorn, noting how each has been depicted through art, literature and religious texts for centuries and continues to capture people’s imagination today.
Questions this article raises
- Why do so many different cultures independently feature mythical horses?
- How did the unicorn’s depiction change between medieval and modern times?
- What’s the earliest known reference to Sleipnir in Norse mythology?
