{{Short description|Mythical horse-like creature with wings}} {{Use dmy dates |date=May 2026}} [[File:Pegaz Opera Poznań.jpg|thumb|Pegasus, as the winged horse of Muses, on the roof of Poznań Opera House (Max Littmann, 1910)]] A '''winged horse''', '''flying horse''', or '''pterippus''' is a kind of mythical creature, mostly depicted as a horse with the wings of a bird. Winged horses appear in the mythologies of various cultures including, but not limited to, Greek mythology, Chinese mythology, and Hindu mythology. Multiple types and variations of mythological horses exist across cultures, however, of those that can fly, many possess winged features, avian or otherwise.
== European mythos ==
===Greco-Roman=== The Greek winged horse, Pegasus, was sired by Poseidon or, in Roman myth, by Neptune, from Medusa. Often portrayed as a white horse with feathered white wings, he was the steed of the Greek hero Bellerophon until they both met their demise at the hands of Zeus. He also has a constellation, and is often considered the prototypical model for Western winged horses in both ancient and modern depictions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pegasus (mythical creature) |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/pegasus-mythical-creature#:~:text=Pegasus%20is%20a%20winged%20horse,wings%20capable%20of%20incredible%20speed |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=EBSCO Research Starters}}</ref>
Additionally, Selene, Greek goddess of the Moon, was often depicted as riding across the night sky either "in a chariot pulled by winged white horses" or on horseback herself. Her brother, Helios, Greek God of the Sun, was also pictured as riding through the sky "on horse-drawn carriage", and though his were not as often depicted as winged, there does exist material of them with wings as well.<ref>{{cite web | title=Calyx-krater | work=The British Museum | url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1867-0508-1133?selectedImageId=119475001}}</ref>
=== Horses in the Jura === The Jura Mountains on the Alps-Swiss border are mythologized to home magical horses, multiple of which are winged. The White Horse of Foncine was seen often throughout the commune of Foncine-le-Haut, Foncine-le-Bas, and Les Planches, mainly in the dusk.<ref>{{Citation |last=Chédeau |first=Catherine |title=20. L'œuvre de Conrat Meit en Franche-Comté : les tombeaux des Chalon dans l'église des Cordeliers de Lons-le-Saunier |date=2010 |work=La Franche-Comté et les anciens Pays-Bas, XIIIe-XVIIIe siècles |pages=429–448 |url=https://doi.org/10.4000/books.pufc.24847 |access-date=2025-05-12 |publisher=Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté |doi=10.4000/books.pufc.24847 |isbn=978-2-84867-276-2}}</ref> The Horses of Cosges<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00124662 |title=Monnier, Hippolyte Désiré |date=2011-10-31 |publisher=Oxford University Press |series=Benezit Dictionary of Artists |doi=10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00124662}}</ref> were known to be twin, headless horses with wings that lived in the Canton of Bletterans. Finally, the Sylph Horseman of Bonlieu was said to be the spirit of an old King rode who could be seen riding a winged horse in the Haut-Jura region.<ref>{{Citation |last=Chédeau |first=Catherine |title=20. L'œuvre de Conrat Meit en Franche-Comté : les tombeaux des Chalon dans l'église des Cordeliers de Lons-le-Saunier |date=2010 |work=La Franche-Comté et les anciens Pays-Bas, XIIIe-XVIIIe siècles |pages=429–448 |url=https://doi.org/10.4000/books.pufc.24847 |access-date=2025-05-12 |publisher=Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté |doi=10.4000/books.pufc.24847 |isbn=978-2-84867-276-2}}</ref> [[File:Petre Ispirescu-Fairy-tales.jpg|thumb|Fǎt-Frumos riding calul năzdrăvan on a 1987 postage stamp]]
=== Norse === While many horses in Norse mythology can fly, only Hófvarpnir, steed of Gná, has been depicted as winged.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wiener |first=Harvey S. |title=Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press USA - OSO |others=John Lindow |isbn=978-0-19-515382-8 |location=Cary}}</ref> Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse, is famously capable of flight, but is not said to have had wings.
===Slavic=== In the folklore of Romania, the prince and hero Făt-Frumos rides a steed called ''{{ill|calul năzdrăvan|ro}}'' (loosely translated as 'magic horse'<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heroes in the Romanian Folklore |url=https://rolandia.eu/en/blog/romanian-myths-legends/heroes-in-the-romanian-folklore?srsltid=AfmBOor6YSnKU2ttbsLvIhwAmALoA3dZ-TRlnT0xBNj4ZCjCP-jFdPLX |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Rolandia - Romania Tours | date=25 April 2025}}</ref>), often depicted as a flying, winged horse who advises the prince in their many adventures.
== East Asian ==
=== Chinese mythology === Three winged horses were discussed in ancient Chinese texts, yet the lines between the three seem to blur. Some scholars debate about the distinction or difference between the three, as their features were largely similar.
The tianma (meaning 'heavenly horse') were "blood-sweating horses" sometimes depicted as winged, that were highly sought after by Han Dynasty Emperor Wu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editors |first=The |date=2024-12-02 |title=The Supernatural Horses That Fascinated Chinese Emperors |url=https://daily.jstor.org/the-supernatural-horses-that-fascinated-chinese-emperors/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=JSTOR Daily}}</ref> [[File:Waddell-p410-Chinese-LONG-Horse-Or-Horse-Dragon.jpg|thumb|The Longma]] Qianlima (meaning 'thousand-li horse'), also called ''chollima'' in Korean or ''senrima'' in Japanese, was originally written about in Chinese classics and described as a winged horse who could travel hundreds of li (nearly 400 km) in a day.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Spring |first=Madeline K. |date=1988 |title=Fabulous Horses and Worthy Scholars in Ninth-Century China |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/tpao/74/4/article-p173_1.xml |journal=T'oung Pao |volume=74 |issue=4 |pages=173–210 |doi=10.1163/156853288X00013 |issn=0082-5433|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Finally, the longma (meaning 'dragon horse') was a winged dragon horse referred to in the Bamboo Annals and magic squares arrangements. Although similar to a chimera, longma were often depicted as dragon-horse hybrids with colorful scales who walked on water and were omens of a good emperor to come.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mythological beasts (longma, dragon, pheonix and flowering tendrils) |url=https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/1529124 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Museum of New Zealand}}</ref>
=== Tibetan mythology === Lungta, or Wind Horse, in Tibetan Buddhism, is a flying horse, often winged, that was said to carry prayers from humans to the heavens.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dickie |first=Jacinda |date=2016-05-27 |title=Windhorse (Prayer Flags) |url=https://tibetpedia.com/lifestyle/religious-life/windhorse/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Tibetpedia}}</ref> The horse is known to have a large, colorful gem on its back and is depicted with the four other mythical creatures (dragon, garuda, snow lion, and tiger) on prayer flags.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-10 |title=Windhorse and the energy of good fortune |website=Jamyang London Buddhist Centre |url=https://jamyang.co.uk/windhorse-and-the-energy-of-good-fortune/ |access-date=2025-05-13}}</ref> As a symbol, the horse represents the buoyancy of life and fundamental goodness of the human spirit.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Trungpa |first=Chogyam |title=Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior |year=1984 |isbn=978-1590304518 |pages=84–85}}</ref>
==Hinduism== thumb|Uchchaisravas, depicted here with seven heads and green wings Two major winged horses are featured in Hinduism.
In Vishnu's final avatar, Kalki, or Kalkin, is depicted as coming down from the heavens to end the world on a large winged horse named Devadatta (not to be confused with the monk, Devadatta, brother of Siddartha).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kalki Avatar |url=https://artsandculture.google.com/incognito/story/DQVxz4pJ4EWOUQ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Google Arts & Culture}}</ref>
Uchchaihshravas, meaning 'Long-Ears', is a seven-headed, winged horse deemed 'King of Horses'. During the original churning of the Sea of Milk, Uchchaihshravas emerged and was grabbed and ridden by Lord Indra.<ref>Bhagavad Gita (10.27)</ref>
== West Asian mythos ==
=== Turkey === thumb|Senegalese depiction of the Al-Buraq In Islamic tradition, and in Turkey more specifically, the prophet Muhammad was said to have ridden the Buraq, or Al-Buraq, from Jerusalem, to the Heavens, back to Mecca in one night. While Buraq now constitutes or is said to appear as a flash of lightning, the earliest biographies of Muhammad describe the steed as a white half-donkey, half-mule with large wings and the face of a human.<ref>{{Cite web |title='The Little Flash of Lightning': Buraq in Islamic Art |url=https://www.epoch-magazine.com/ignatovaflashoflightning |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Epoch}}</ref>
=== Iran === In the Sasanid period and under Zoroastrian tradition, winged horses were understood as carrying souls and as manifestations of the gods Tishtar and Bahram. They were often depicted with one leg raised and on the backs of coins and priestly seals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=فکریپور |first1=کتایون |last2=شریفیان |first2=فریبا |date=January 2024 |title=نماد شناسی اسب بالدار در ایران باستان مطالعه موردی مهری از موزه بوعلی سینای همدان) |url=https://doi.org/10.22034/aclr.2024.2019134.1096 |journal=پژوهشنامه فرهنگ و زبانهای باستان |doi=10.22034/aclr.2024.2019134.1096}}</ref>
== African mythos == The Pegasos Aithiopikos, or Ethiopian Pegasus, was born on the shores of the Red Sea near Eritrea.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethiopian Pegasus (Pegasos Aithiopikos) - Winged Horse of Greek & Roman Legend |url=https://www.theoi.com/Thaumasios/PegasoiAithiopikoi.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Theoi Greek Mythology}}</ref> It was said to be directly descended from or inspired by the Greek Pegasus. The horse was said to be native to Ethiopia, with large wings, a reddish coat, and a large singular horn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=African Beasts (Theres Aithiopikoi) - Animals of Greek & Roman Legend |url=https://www.theoi.com/Thaumasios/TheresAithiopikoi.html |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Theoi Greek Mythology}}</ref>
==See also== * Hippogriff, a winged horse hybrid * ''The Little Humpbacked Horse''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Winged horses}}
* Category:Horses in mythology Category:Mythological hybrids * Category:Greek legendary creatures