HIPPOI EREKHTHEIOI
Greek Name
Ἱπποι Ερεχθειοι
Transliteration
Hippoi Erekhtheioi
Latin Spelling
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Translation
Horses of Erekhtheus
THE HIPPOI EREKTHEIOI (Horses of Erechtheus) were two immortal horses possessed by the Athenian King Erekhtheus. He received them from Boreas, god of the north-wind, as a bride price for his daughter Oreithyia. The steeds were named Xanthos and Podarkes.
PARENTS
BOREAS & AELLOPOS (Nonnus Dionysiaca 37.155)
NAMES
XANTHOS, PODARKES (Nonnus Dionysiaca 37.155)
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 37. 155 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"First Erekhtheus (Erechtheus) [king of Athens] brought his horse Xanthos (Bayard) under the yoke, and fastened in his mare Podarkes (Podarces, Swiftfoot); both sired by North-Wind Boreas in winged coupling when he dragged a Sithonian Harpyia (Harpy) Aellopos to himself, and Wind gave them as loveprice to his godfather Erekhtheus when he stole Attic Oreithyia for his bride."
NAMES OF THE HORSES
Greek Name
Ξανθος
Ποδαρκης
Transliteration
Xanthos
Podarkês
Latin Spelling
Xanthus
Podarces
Translation
Bay (xanthos)
Swift-footed (podarkês)
SOURCES
GREEK
- Nonnus, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th A.D.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.