Fantasy, mythology and horses, three ingredients in a recipe for absolutely amazing creations. Horses are noble and majestic animals, fantastical in their own right and have been the inspiration for numerous timeless tales like Black Beauty and Sea Biscuit. Horses have played a major role in epics like J.R.R Tolkiens the Lord of the Rings, with every hero having their own noble steed. Equestrian activities have been a big part of the history of man, the history of fiction, and the history of, well, history! Almost every religion, mythology and folklore contains various equine beasts and beauties. Here are 20 such startling creatures, each more fascinating than the last!
1. Each-uisge, a water spirit from Scottish Folklore
(By Liza Phoenix, Wikimedia Commons)
2. Cheval Mallet, the Mallet Horse from French Folklore
(By Tsaag Valren, Wikimedia Commons)
3. Hippocampus, the sea-horse popular in Greek, Roman, Phoenician and other mythologies
4. Horse-Face, and his counterpart Ox-Head, guardians of the Underworld in Chinese folklore
5. Pegasus, the Winged Horse from Greek Mythology
(By Mary Hamilton Frye, Wikimedia Commons)
6. Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of Odin in Norse Mythology
(By W.G. Collingwood, Wikimedia Commons)
7. Chollima, the thousand-mile horse in East Asian Mythology
(By Nicor, Wikimedia Commons)
8. Unicorn, the mystical single-horned horse from numerous ancient folklores
(By Mohammad.m.nazari, Wikimedia Commons)
9. Uchchaihshravas, the Seven-Headed flying horse of Hindu Mythology
10. Hippalectryon or Hippalektryon, a half-horse half-rooster hybrid fantasy creature from Greek Mythology
(By Xenokles, Wikimedia Commons)
11. The Dragon-horse of Xuan Zang, from 7th Century Chinese Folklore
12. Helhest, the three-legged horse of Hel, in Norse Mythology
(By Tsaag Valren, Wikimedia Commons)
13. The Mares of Diomedes or Mares of Thrace, the man-eating horses of Diomedes, son of Ares, in Greek Mythology
(By Luis García, Wikimedia Commons)
14. Qilin/Kirin, the fire-breathing equivalent of the Chimera in Japanese mythology
15. Keshi, the Horse-Demon from Hindu Mythology
(By I, Sailko, Wikimedia Commons)
16. Centaur, a half-human half-horse beast from tales of Greek Mythology
(By John La Farge, Wikimedia Commons)
17. Hippogriff, the winged half-eagle half horse, derived from Greek Mythology
(By LadyofHats, Wikimedia Commons)
18. Longma, the dragon-horse hybrid from Chinese Mythology
(By Chloé M, Wikimedia Commons)
19. The Nuckelavee, a horse-demon from Orcadian mythology
By James Torrance, Wikimedia Commons)
20. Bäckahäst, bækhest, the brook horse or water horse of Scandinavian Folklore
(By Theodor Kittelsen, Wikimedia Commons)
