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- 4. While his partner is responsible for setting the sun in motion, this half of the dynamic-duo is noted for his speed. Ethereal and grandiose, they are often portrayed in hues of gold and bronze - a reflection of the sun’s ambient light.
- 7. A horse with a tail of scales. This hybrid is a Greek mythical creature that is half-horse and half-fish. The chest up features an arched neck with a flowing mane. It is propelled by two powerful front legs and a tail of fins and scales. Known for its strength, teams of this creature were used to pull Poseidon’s chariot.
- 9. The horse that could cover 1,000 li in a day (approximately 311 miles). This winged-horse is not suited for any mortal, for it is too sacred and swift. Its origin comes from the Chinese classics (Chinese literature written before the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC) and is prominent in East Asian mythology. The Chinese name for it is Qianlima, in Korean it is Chollima. For this puzzle we are using the Japanese name.
- 10. Churned from the cosmic ocean, this is a divine horse of Hindu mythology. A mesmerizing sight, with seven-heads, wings in flight, and a coat as white and pure as newly-fallen snow. It’s no wonder that its radiance is known to rival that of the sun.
- 12. He made his debut in the twelfth-century chanson de geste (a type of epic poem), The Four Sons of Aymon. In this narrative, he carried Renaud de Montauban and his three brothers (the four sons) in various escapades, including a revolt against Charlemagne. The horse could change size to adjust to its riders, hence the fact that he was able to carry all four. In defeat, Renaud was forced to surrender him to Charlemagne. In revenge for the bay horse’s part in the uprising, Charlemagne tied a rock to his neck and attempted to drown him. This was no match for the powerful steed, as he smashed the rock and escaped to freedom.
- 13. Beware of these legendary black steeds from Scotland. These shape-shifting creatures lurk around lochs and rivers. They mostly appear as horses in order to lure people, especially children, onto their backs. Once astride, they urgently carry their riders to a murky death in the nearby water. So embedded are they in the Scottish culture, that two equine sculptures in Falkirk, Scotland, are named after them. Their sculptures are the largest equine sculptures in the world, befitting of a larger than life legend.
- 14. A divine horse of Greek mythology. He is known for his swiftness and intelligence and is said to have the ability to speak. There are several versions of his birth; one tale is that he is the result of Poseidon, the god of the sea, tricking Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. There are two ways to spell his name, the other is Areion.
- 15. According to Norse mythology, he is an “early riser” that sets the dawn in motion. Along with his partner, he is responsible for pulling the sun goddess, Sol, across the sky.
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- 1. This creature sprung from the vivid imagination of Ludovico Ariosto, an Italian poet. It was first featured in his epic poem Orlando Furioso, which was written in the 16th century. This hybrid’s front half resembles an eagle with broad wings, sharp talons, an elongated beak, and piercing eyes; the body, hind legs, and tail is that of a horse. It continues to enrapture us to this day as they appear in modern literature and films, most notably the Harry Potter series.
- 2. An apotropaic hybrid that commonly appeared on ancient war shields. It is a combination of a regal steed and a fierce rooster. The front part has the noble head, graceful neck, and powerful legs and hooves of a horse. The back part has large wings, a feathery tail, and the legs and talons of a rooster.
- 3. A children’s delight - a white pony’s fright. This fanciful creature represents purity, strength, and magic. It is more of a legend than a myth, as some believed it to have been a real ungulate. It often appeared, in ancient artwork, as an oxen-type of animal with a single horn. Nowadays, it is commonly depicted as a white horse with a single-spiraled horn protruding from it’s forehead.
- 5. This swift and sturdy, eight-legged grey horse of Norse mythology is best known as the mount of Odin, a Norse god of war and poetry. He is valued for his ability to carry his riders effortlessly through different realms of existence, most particularly to the realm of the dead. According to the Norse, he is considered to be “the best of all horses.”
- 6. This mythological flying horse is of Chinese descent. He is fancifully imagined with dragon scales and is said to have the ability to sweat blood. The latter is a classic mixture of folklore and reality, as some scholars believe “blood-sweating” comes from a real condition caused by blood-sucking parasites that feasted upon the horses in the region.
- 7. This is a Hindu deity which has the dignified head of a horse and the body of a human. It is worshipped as the god of knowledge and wisdom. It is typically portrayed with four arms; each arm holds an object, usually a book, rosary, discus, or conch.
- 8. He is one of the most famous mythical horses of all times. His image has been immortalized on everything from ancient coins to modern-day logos. He is so prominent and powerful that he even has his own constellation. This winged-white stallion was born into Greek mythology when he sprung from the neck of the beheaded Medusa.
- 11. Greek mythological creatures that are half-man and half-horse. They were said to live in the Forest of Mt. Pelion, Thessaly, Greece. They symbolize the conflict between civilized behavior and man’s primal instinct.