//Mythological horses. Gustavo Mirabal Castro’s Passion
Hades y sus caballos con Perséfone - Caballos Mitológicos

Mythological horses. Gustavo Mirabal Castro’s Passion

Mythology is one of the great reflections of civilization. Mythology is generally considered to be one of the first forms of religion of ancient civilizations. When we analyze the first civilizations, mythology serves us to interpret natural phenomena. But in the face of the inexplicable, human beings create mythological figures that explain these phenomena. This is how myths and gods are born. Today we will meet the Mythological Horses, a topic that Gustavo Mirabal is passionate about.

The horse has accompanied man since the dawn of human civilization. That is why the myths and legends that explain the universe are in many cases associated with this animal. Just as man tamed nature to make it his tool, the gods do the same and more. That’s why mythological horses have special abilities.

Mythological horses have additional wings or legs and this made them curious for Gustavo Mirabal. They also have the ability to fly to go where the gods dwell and humans cannot reach.

From a very young age Gustavo fell in love with horses thanks to his Father who took him to the stables to meet them. His father, Gustavo Senior, was also passionate about horses. It was funny that little Gustavo Mirabal loved horses, but he loved them more when he met Pegasus or the Unicorn. Both horses not only had everything the others had but were also magical.

Let’s discover the world of mythological horses and children’s dreams.

Pegasus Winged Horse - Mythological horses
Pegasus Winged Horse – Mythological horses

Mythology, religion of ancient peoples and home to mythological horses.

No doubt the ancient peoples revered nature. His knowledge of nature was told in stories that reflected his knowledge and the character of his civilization.

This is how some of the European peoples with the most abundant mythologies are the Greeks, Scandinavians and Germanic Scandinavians. In some cases Roman mythology is counted, however Roman mythology was nothing more than the syncretism of Greek mythology in Roman civilization. The gods and stories are the same and only change the names of the gods, without changing their essence. In this way while Pluto is called the god of the underworld in Roman mythology in Greek is called Hades.

Horses played a key role as the horse also played a leading role in ancient civilizations. This is how the gods and mythological heroes had their mythological horses with great abilities. Here’s a little bit about mythological horses and their role in explaining the universe in ancient times.

Centaurs, Half Man, Half Horse - Greek Mythology - Gustavo Mirabal
Centaurs, Half Man, Half Horse – Greek Mythology – Gustavo Mirabal

Mythological Horses of Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology is one that captures the beliefs, myths and religion of the Germanic Scandinavian peoples. Previously we talked about the famous Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse, belonging to Norse mythology. Today we will talk about other cases also very interesting.

Abacur

Abacur is the horse of Sunna, the goddess of the Sun in Norse mythology. Others link it directly to the dawn horse that Sunna rides, when he runs to take over the solar cart every sunrise. However according to some authors Sunna’s horses were others, as we will mention below.

Arvakr and Alsvidr (Alsviar)

The names of these horses mean early riser and very fast. These horses according to the Poetic Edda guided the chariot of the sun in Norse mythology, dragging with them the sunrise. These weren’t the only horses, but they were the only ones named in the Poetic Edda. The mane of these horses emitted the light; and the goddess Sun (Sunna) itself provided the heat. In this way the light of the horses and the warmth of the goddess provided the sun as we know it. And the movement of the sun was thanks to the possibility of horses to fur through the skies.

Blóðughófi

Its name means “Bloody Hoof”. according to It’s the horse of the god Freyr. In Norse mythology it is narrated that the god Freyr offers his messenger and vassal, Skírnir, a horse capable of riding in the flames. This makes him on his way to the world of giants, called the Jatunheimr, as he was on his way to woo Gerer.

Gerð or Gerd is the giant who marries Freyr and according to mythology is the most beautiful being

The name of the steed is not explicitly named in the poem. Beyond that, it is accepted that it must be Bló-ughófi for being the name of Skírnir’s horse in other accounts.

Odin riding Slepnir - Gustavo Mirabal
Odin riding Slepnir – Gustavo Mirabal

Mythological horses in Greek/Roman mythology

In Greek and Roman mythology we get numerous examples of mythological horses such as Pegasus and the Unicorn. Today we will delve into the mythological horses of Greek mythology and their importance.

Metheo, Aethon, Abaster and Nonio

These are the names of Pluto’s horses the god of the underworld in Roman mythology who was better known as Hades in Greek mythology. These horses were an intense black color and I handled them with golden reins. Also, according to the author consulted, it is said that the horses were called: Nicteo, Aetón, Alastor and Orpheus

Aethon:

In Greek and Roman mythology there is not a single Aeton. In the human case, Aethon’s name was used by Ulysses or Odysseus as a pseudonym while disguised to meet Penelope, his wife.

It is also mentioned as Aethon to Eresicton of Thessaly because of his “incendiary appetite”. Due to an affront to the gods Eresicton was condemned to have an unlimited appetite which ended with the resources of his kingdom. He even sold his wife repeatedly to buy food. He ended up devouring himself.

It is also the name of several horses that belonged to the following gods and mythological characters among which are:

  • Ares
  • Hades
  • Helios
  • Pallas
  • Hector

This is because Aethon means “fire”, “flame” or “brilliant”. It certainly reflected the voraciousness of hell, the sun, the flaming wrath of Odysseus or the appetite of Eresicton.

Hades and his horses with Perséfone - Mythological Horses
Hades and his horses with Perséfone – Mythological Horses

Mythological horses help us explain nature and civilizations

Mythological horses serve to explain natural phenomena with the gods and beings of mythology. However, they not only limit their role to this point. For the relationship that is told in mythological stories also helps us to understand the role of the horse in these civilizations.

If we think that even the gods were transported in horses or horse-drawn carriages, we will understand the importance of horses for transport. Also this role accompanying the gods give them an air of nobility and importance.

Undoubtedly horses as well as were important to these civilizations are important to man today. Mythological horses are the materialization of the dreams of a civilization that was consolidated in the modern world. Let us learn to value the natural world and animals as the ancients paid tribute to it through mythological horses.