Lunar New Year: Mythical Horses

It's Lunar New Year!

(also known as Chinese New Year)

More specifically, it is the Year of the Horse!

In honor of this, I present this two-part collage of mythical horses and equine creatures from myths and legends around the world!

The mythical horse creatures represented are...

Pegasus

The winged horse of Greek mythology

One of the children of Medusa

The other one is Chrysaor, the giant with the golden sword.

Its name is written in Greek letters.

Bayard

A magical horse from the Medieval European legend of Renaud

This horse can grow to accommodate four riders!

Sleipnir

The eight-legged steed of the Norse god Odin

Half-sibling of Jormungard, Fenrir, and Hel

One of the children of Loki

Look up how Sleipnir was born at your own risk!

Its name is written in Nordic runes.

Long-Ma

The dragon-horse of Chinese mythology.

Considered a symbol of power and freedom

It is celebrated in a song by Taiwanese music artist NiNi Music.

Its name is written in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese characters.

Hippocampus

Horse-fish from Roman, Etruscan, Greek, and Phoenician mythology

Basically, its habitat is the eastern Mediterranean and the seas around Italy.

They pull the chariot of Poseidon/Neptune, and this is represented at the Trevi Fountain (which I actually saw while in Rome!)

Its name is written in Greek letters.

Tikbalang

Horse-person of Philippine mythology

Its name is written in Baybayin, a writing system used in the Pre-Spanish Philippines.

Kelpie (a.k.a. Each Uisce or Aughisky)

The water-horse of Scottish and Irish mythology

It waits for someone to ride it, then drowns them and devours them.

Hence, it is represented here with a fin where its mane should be, as well as a crocodilian torso and tail.

Its Irish name is written in Ogham, the historical alphabet of Ireland.

Centaurs

The horse-people of Greek mythology

Descendants of King Ixion and a cloud in the shape of Hera

They are usually said to be rowdy, but a notable exception is Chiron, the trainer of heroes.

Their collective name is written in Greek letters.

Nuckelavee

A demon from Orcadian myth in the form of a horse with a human torso growing out of its back

It spreads plague and decay wherever it goes.

It can only be destroyed by freshwater.

This is perhaps the first post from Mythology Worlds not to use artwork that is already on one of its webpages.

The diverse origins of these mythical horses shows that Lunar New Year is for everyone.

Happy Lunar New Year

And have a gre-e-e-e-e-e-eat last two weeks of February!