Poseidon Hippios
godAn epithet of Poseidon as lord of horses, reflecting his role as creator of the first horse and patron of equestrian arts.
The Myth
Poseidon Hippios reveals the god's ancient connection to horses, predating his association with the sea. When Poseidon and Athena competed for patronage of Athens, Poseidon struck the Acropolis with his trident and produced either a salt spring or, in some versions, the first horse. Athena's olive tree was judged more useful, but Poseidon's equine gift established his role as patron of horsemen. He fathered the winged horse Pegasus through the Gorgon Medusa and the divine horses Arion and Despoina through Demeter, whom he pursued in the form of a stallion. The great sanctuary of Poseidon Hippios at Onchestus in Boeotia hosted chariot races in the god's honour. At Corinth, the Isthmian Games dedicated to Poseidon featured horse racing alongside athletic events.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Greek hippos (horse) from Poseidon Hippios runs through modern language like a thoroughbred: hippodrome (horse course), hippopotamus (river horse), Philip (horse lover), and Hippocrates (horse power). Every horse race run at a "hippodrome" — from ancient Olympia to modern tracks worldwide — unconsciously honours Poseidon's claim as the god who invented the animal.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
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