Coloring Pages for Kids
Horses of Greek Mythology coloring pages
Welcome to our coloring pages featuring horses from Greek mythology.
Greek mythology is rich with tales of gods, heroes, and creatures, including a variety of horses and horse-like beings. Each of these horses has its own story, significance, and connection to various gods, heroes, and mythical events, enriching the vast tapestry of Greek mythology.
Young Pegasus
Pegasus:
Born from the blood of Medusa when Perseus struck her down, Pegasus rose into the sky, a winged horse born from chaos and beauty intertwined.
Athena tamed him and gave him to the Muses, where his hoof struck Mount Helicon and brought forth the sacred spring Hippocrene, source of poetic inspiration.
Later, he carried the hero Bellerophon in his battle against the Chimera before ascending to Olympus, where Zeus made him a constellation and bearer of thunderbolts. Pegasus endures as a timeless symbol of creativity, freedom, and flight.
Trojan Horse:
The Trojan Horse was a giant hollow wooden horse the Greeks built to trick the city of Troy. After ten years of war, they left it outside the gates as a "gift" and sailed away, with soldiers hiding inside. The Trojans pulled it into the city, and that night the soldiers climbed out and opened the gates. Today, a "Trojan horse" means any trick that looks like a gift but hides something harmful.
Hippocampi:
Half horse, half fish, these sea creatures drew Poseidon’s chariot through the waves. Their shimmering forms bridged land and ocean, strength and mystery.
The Horses of Helios or Apollo
Helios, the sun god, drove his chariot across the sky daily, pulled by four fiery horses named Pyrois, Eos, Aethon, and Phlegon.
The horses pulling Helios' chariot are usually depicted as fiery steeds with coats that resemble the bright colors of flames--reds, oranges, and yellows. Their manes and tails might seem to flicker like fire.
Phaethon’s Horses
These are the horses of the sun chariot. Helios drove them across the sky each day, and his son Phaethon lost control of them when he begged to drive for a day. The horses bolted, the chariot came too close to the earth, and Zeus struck Phaethon down with a thunderbolt to stop the damage.
Horses of Hades
While not described as skeletal, the horses that pull Hades' chariot could be imagined as darker and more ominous than typical horses, potentially having features that echo the grim aspects of the underworld.
Nightmares from Hecate
Hecate, the goddess of magic, witchcraft, and ghosts, might be imagined to have horses that fit the "zombie" or skeletal description, aligning with her association with the darker aspects of the world. These horses could be considered part of her nocturnal retinue, embodying the fearsome qualities of night and magic. Night-mares! get it?
Arion
Arion was an immortal horse, the child of Poseidon and Demeter, and he was the fastest horse in Greek myth. Some stories say he could speak. He was owned by Heracles at one point, and later by King Adrastus of Argos, whom he carried out of danger in the war of the Seven against Thebes. In mythology he has a glossy black coat.
Areion
A different way to write Arion, this is the same horse. His name became a mark of divine strength and intelligence united.
Xanthus and Balius
Gifted to Achilles by his father Peleus, these immortal horses were sired by the West Wind. Their pale coats gleamed like silver, and they could speak with the voice of prophecy. Born of air and light, they ran faster than the storm.
The Mares of Diomedes
These mares are often portrayed as wild and fierce, with muscular builds and eyes that could gleam with a ferocious light. Their coats might be dark, matted, and unkempt, reflecting their savage nature.
These were four man-eating horses owned by the giant Diomedes. Heracles was tasked with capturing them as one of his Twelve Labors.
Bucephalus
Alexander the Great’s legendary horse bridged the line between myth and history. Jet-black with a white star on his brow, Bucephalus was said to allow no rider but Alexander, mirroring his master’s bold and restless spirit.
Cyllarus
This was the horse of the centaur Hylonome, killed at the wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia, and often mentioned for his beauty and bravery.
Cyllarus is depicted as a horse of exceptional beauty, with a strong, noble profile, possibly with a coat of warm chestnut or golden hue, reflecting his valor and the tragedy of his death.
Centaurs
Half human, half horse, the centaurs embodied both wild nature and human reason. Most were fierce and untamed, yet Chiron, wise and kind, became a teacher to heroes like Achilles and Asclepius.
Their dual nature reflected the struggle within every person between instinct and wisdom.
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