Poseidon Hippios
An epithet of Poseidon as lord of horses, reflecting his role as creator of the first horse and patron of equestrian arts.
The Myth of Poseidon Hippios
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.
Parents
Cronus, Rhea
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. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Neptune
⚡ godSea, earthquakes, horses
Roman god of the sea and freshwater, identified with the Greek Poseidon but originally a deity of springs and rivers
Arion
🐉 creatureSpeed, divinity
Supernaturally fast divine horse born from Poseidon and Demeter, later ridden by the hero Adrastus
Pegasus
🐉 creatureWinged horse of inspiration
Pegasus was the immortal winged horse born from Medusa's blood whose hoof-strike created the Hippocrene spring of poetic inspiration.
Pegasus
🐉 creatureFlight, heroism
Winged divine horse born from the blood of Medusa who carried Bellerophon against the Chimaera
Pegazos
🐉 creaturesky,horses
The winged horse born from Medusa's blood when Perseus decapitated her, later tamed by Bellerophon and used to kill the Chimera, before ascending to become a constellation.
Pegasus
🐉 creatureWinged divine horse
The immortal winged horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa when Perseus beheaded her. Pegasus was tamed by Bellerophon and later became a constellation.
Glaucus of Corinth
🗡 heroHorses, Hybris, Divine Punishment
Corinthian king and charioteer who fed his mares on human flesh; they devoured him during the funeral games of Pelias.
Poseidon
⚡ godGod of the sea, earthquakes, and horses
Poseidon was the god of the sea and earthquakes whose moods determined whether sailors lived or died — and whose grudge against Odysseus drove the Odyssey.
Balius
🐉 creatureSpeed, immortality
One of the two immortal horses of Achilles, born of the West Wind and the harpy Podarge
Xanthus
🐉 creatureSpeed, prophecy
Immortal horse of Achilles gifted with speech who prophesied his master's death at Troy
Poseidon
⚡ godGod of the sea, earthquakes, horses
Lord of the seas and brother of Zeus. Poseidon's moods shaped the oceans — calm seas for those who pleased him, devastating storms for those who did not.
Hippocampus
🐉 creaturesea creatures
A horse-bodied sea creature with a fish or serpent tail that pulled Poseidon's chariot