![]() They’re known for their incredible speed, agility and excellent understanding of other creatures as well as humans and deities. Hippocamps remain some of the most popular mythical creatures because of their gentle nature and beauty. In 2019, one of Neptune’s moon’s was named Hippocamp after the mythical creature. They’re also featured in many video games such as ‘God of War’. Hippocampi have been featured in many films and tv series based on Greek mythology such as ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters’ in which Percy and Annabeth ride on the back of a beautiful hippocampus. In 1933, Air France used a winged hippocampus as its symbol and in Dublin, Ireland the images of bronze hippocamps are found on lamp-posts on the Grattan Bridge and next to Henry Grattan’s statue. It also appears as a decorative motif in silver-ware, bronze-ware, paintings, baths and statues. The image of the mythical hippocampus has been used as a heraldic charge throughout history. The name was given because this component looks similar to a searhorse. In biology, hippocampus refers to an important component of the brain of humans and other vertebrates. They were sometimes depicted with wings like those in the Trevi fountain. In Etruscan mythology, the hippocampus was an important theme in reliefs and tomb paintings. ![]() Some say that the Roman depiction of the hippocampus originated in Pictish mythology and was then brought over to Rome. Their image looks similar but aren’t exactly the same as the images of Roman sea-horses. Hippocamps were known as ‘ Kelpies’ or ‘Pictish Beasts’ in Pictish mythology and appear in many Pictish stone carvings found in Scotland. It was a common belief that the sea suds which formed whenever the waves crashed was caused by the movement of the hippocampus beneath the waters. They also helped people to overcome any problems that they faced at sea. Hippocamps often rescued sailors from drowning and saved men from sea monsters. Therefore, they were revered by the Ancient Greeks as the mounts of Poseidon (in Roman mythology: Neptune). They were respected by all sea creatures such as mermen, sea elves and sea gods who treated them as their loyal mounts.Īccording to Homer’s Iliad, Poseidon’s chariot was pulled by two or more beautiful hippocamps which is why the beasts became closely associated with the Greek god of the sea. Hippocamps were known for being gentle creatures that had good relationships with their owners. The Hippocampus in Greek and Roman Mythology A Hippocampus in Trevi Fountain In these regards, the symbolism of the Hippocampus is similar to that of Pegasus, another mythical horse-like creature of Greek mythology. Many people who have hippocampus tattoos say that it makes them feel free, beautiful and graceful. The image of the hippocampus is a popular one for tattoo designs. In addition to this, it symbolizes true love, humility and freedom. Sailors regarded the hippocampus as a good omen and it was also a symbol of agility and strength. The hippocampus is often regarded as a symbol of hope since it was a benevolent and spiritual creature that helped people.Īs a mythical creature, it’s strongly associated with creativity and imagination. ![]() Overall, these lovely creatures preferred to have their privacy and didn’t like to have their space invaded. It took a newborn hippocampus a year to reach physical maturity but a year longer to mature intellectually and until then, their mothers were very protective of them. The pack consisted of one stallion, several mares and a number of young hippocamps. According to some accounts, they fed on small fish as well.Īccording to various sources, hippocamps traveled around in packs of ten, similar to lions. According to some sources, they were herbivorous creatures that fed on seaweed, algae, bits of coral reef and other sea plants. They didn’t need air to survive and hardly returned to the water’s surface unless their food sources were completely depleted. Habits of the Hippocampsīecause they were so large, hippocamps preferred to live in the deeper part of the sea and were found in both saltwater and freshwater. They were strong and swift swimmers that could span several miles of sea in a few seconds which is why they were popular rides.
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