Discover the Greek Mythology Hippocampus
Dive into the fascinating world of the greek mythology hippocampus! Discover its origins, artistic depictions, and cultural significance. From its role in ancient tales to its modern representations, the hippocampus captivates the imagination. Learn about its mythical connections and its enduring allure in art and storytelling. Explore the greek mythology hippocampus and uncover the mysteries of this legendary creature today!
In Phoenician and Greek mythology, the hippocamp is a sea-horse in the literal sense of the word, with the tail of a fish (or sometimes a dragon) and head and forequarters of a horse (see classical descriptions here). "Hippo" means horse, and "kampus" refers to a monster that lives in the sea. The hippocampus has several less well-known fish tales equivalents, including the leocampus (sea-lion), taurocampus (sea-bull), aigicampus (sea-goat), and pardalocampus (sea-leopard).
p.s. The hippocampus, part of the brain, takes its name from the normal seahorse, not the mythical creature.
In art, the hippocampus is most often depicted pulling the chariot of Poseidon/Neptune, god of the sea. This is logical because Poseidon was also acknowledged as the god of horses. He is sometimes shown as being accompanied by his wife, Amphitrite/Salacia. The hippocamp was also sometimes ridden by a sea nymph (called 'trites' or 'nerieds')
When Poseidon came to the rescue, he was normally described as being carried by hippocampuses. Thus they appear in classic tales such as the Argonautica.
Also known as:
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Heraldic Sea-Horse, Hippocampus, Hydrippus, Merhorse.
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~4 BC Flying Hippocamp Pendant
Perhaps the most famous hippocamp-shaped artifact is this gold and glass necklace pendant depicting a hippocamp with wings. It is a little hard to imagine the native environment of an equid, part fish and part bird. This piece is pictured from the collection of the Usak Museum in Turkey. This hippocamp pendant is part of the Lydian treasure that was looted from a site in Turkey, acquired by the Metropolitan Museum, won back by the Turkish government via the courts, and again stolen and replaced by a duplicate which remains on display to this day.
It is only one of many losses to theft from the many under-funded and poorly protected Turkish museums.
See also:
~3 (AD) Cupid and Hippocampus
At the bottom of this mosaic, Cupid is depicted with a hippocampus. In the group of figures above on the right is Poseidon (a.k.a. Neptune), the god of the sea. The hippocamp drew Poseidon's chariot. This mosaic is housed in the Sousse Museum in Tunisia along with other mosaics from the same period, some of which also depict hippocampi.
In Bestiaries
The hippocampus appears in several ancient bestiaries, including:
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De Natura Rerum (Things of Nature) by Saint Albertus Magnus (13thc)
As well as their modern equivalents, such as Theoi.
Halshippus olai-magni (1968)
Bernard Heuvelmans described seven types of sea serpent including the Halshippus olai-magni which had a long neck and head like a horse. Some cryptozoologists still believe they may exist.
In decorative art:
The hippocampus is a popular variant on the more typical carousel horse. They appear frequently in fountain sculpture.
1950s Jarra "Sea Horse" TV Lamp
Jarra Ceramics made this attractive hippocamp TV lamp in several different colors. If I ever saw one of these on sale I would snap it up. They seem to be very rare.
Seahorses of this type appear in other ceramic produces such as this Belleek flower vase.
See also:
Modern
Hasbro's My Little Pony toys include hippocampi. Vintage examples are called "sea ponies," and current models are "mermaid ponies." The hippocampus also appears in the Harry Potter books.
In contemporary art and crafts, the hippocamp is derived from a range of sea creatures rather than just a generic fishy tale. Hippocamps are photoshopped from orcas and modeled from seals, not to mention hybrids that also include humans, zebras, and other animals. These days, pretty much anything goes.
The hippocampus has been immortalized in many forms, including carousel horses, tattoos, and origami.
Symbolism:
The hippocamp is the symbol of the Royal Tournament and the city of Dublin.
Finally:
The hippocampus can be found decorating almost anything to do with something to do with water (gondola) and some things that don't (tattoo). It's a horse-fish, force... hish? Anyway, it rocks