Ancient Greek Sword Names

The Horse Has A Magical Place In Our Hearts

Long before we walked the earth, there were horses in existence. Horses are beautiful animals and seem to have a spiritual presence. Their ability to pick up on our emotions and their sensitivity to our moods imbues them with something of a mysticism. Perhaps this is why horses throughout the ages have been a focal point of many myths and legends.

The Magical Unicorn.

One of the most well known mythical horses is the Unicorn, which has long captured the heart of the young and the old. There are different names and legends ascribed to the unicorn across many different cultures. In China over 5,000 years ago a unicorn named Ki Lin was responsible for showing the emperor Fu His the Chinese written language. The story goes that the unicorn was covered in symbols and the emperor traced them in the dirt on the ground. The story goes that this is how the written Chinese language originated.

In Arabia the unicorn is called the Karkadaan. This creature was depicted as one who could appear in many different forms; all ferocious and war-like. It is from India as far back as 416 BC that we get the first written accounts of a unicorn. They were described as being white in colour, with dark blue eyes, a dark red head and a horn on their forehead that was about a foot and a half long.

At around three feet tall and a mere one hundred pounds, the European unicorn of folklore is like a smaller version of a horse in every way excepting its horn. The unicorn of Northern Europe is described as being either white or cream. Yet Southern European accounts tell of a golden creature, or else one which is almost black. Magical healing powers are attributed to the horn of a unicorn.

The modern unicorn is described as similar to the European unicorn, except it is bigger and resembles a horse more closely. It is said to look exactly like a horse with a horn in the middle of its head. It is usually depicted as being pure white, however it has even been described as being colours like pink, purple and blue.

The mythical American version of the unicorn is still very popular today with people all ages, but especially with children. You can find numerous references and depictions of unicorns in books, films and even childrens' toys. We all know that the existence of the unicorn is but a fairy-tale, but that fairy-tale continues to delight generation after generation.

The Winged Stallion.

Another horse type creature that has been written about in mythology and other stories is Pegasus.Pegasus - the winged steed of the hero Bellerophon - was the offspring of Medusa and Poseidon, and had many mystic powers, according to Greek mythology. By way of honour, the Greek god Zeus allowed his thunderbolts to be carried by Pegasus. Euippe became Pegasus's mate and they had two offspring named Melanippe and Celeris. According to the myth, When Pegasus was about to die, Zeus transformed him into a constellation so as he could be honoured forever.

A Good Luck Symbol.

In many countries and to many people the horseshoe is a symbol of good luck. The history of how this famous superstition came about is not clear. One theory goes that it is because of the symbolism of the shape which is lucky as this is supposed to be protective. Others believe that the luck emanates from the animal itself. Blacksmiths were once believed to have supernatural powers; magicians to be able to work with iron, whch was said to have magical powers of its own. Witches and demons could thus be kept at bay by the hanging of an iron horseshoe above the doorway.

Another lucky aspect of the horseshoe is the fact there are seven nail holes in each one. The number seven is believed to hold powers of good luck in some cultures. At one time people believed that if a horse had shoes that were made from the sword that had killed someone, he would never be tired and would also be very fast.

Many superstitions and old wives' tales have surrounded horses and donkeys throughout the ages. Some of the strangest and most interesting superstitions surrounding horses are listed below.

•  A horse would become crippled if it stepped in a wolf paw print.
•  Bad luck will befall you if you change a horse's name.
•  To cure whooping cough you inhale a horse's breath.
•  Riding a donkey whilst facing the wrong way is supposedly a cure for snakebites and toothache.
•  If you break a mirror, you can reverse the associated bad luck if you walk through your house with a horse.
•  By carrying a rowan wood whip you could prevent a witch from casting a spell on your horse.
•  Circling a wart with horse hair would cure it.
•  The tail hair of a black stallion worn on the wrist was said to protect the wearer from witches.
•  Putting pennies into your water tank would stop a mare being irritable.
•  Putting a horse's skull under the floor where the piano is situated was said to improve the tone of the instrument.

Horses do often appear to have this magical quality which continues to draw us to them. Most people who spend time around horses talk of their special awe-inspiring qualities. Perhaps this is why they have become such an intricate part of the history of so many varying cultures and civilisations. As such an integral part of our folklore and legend, horses have and always will be part of the stories we tell our children.

This article has been published for the millions of horse enthusiasts all over the world by Animal Friends Equine Insurance - the UK's only not-for-profit horse insurance provider. You can buy horse rider insurance today online or by phone, and all net profits go towards helping animals in crisis around the globe.

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