Powers of Arion in Greek Mythology

Powers of Arion in Greek Mythology

by DG Farnsworth

Arion is an exceptionally fast, magical and immortal mythological horse that speaks. He is the product of Poseidon's rape of Demeter in Arcadia's Thelpusian Territory. Greek sea god Poseidon shapeshifts into a stallion -- then follows and rapes his sister, the Greek agricultural goddess, Demeter, while searching for her daughter, Persephone. In her fury, Demeter changes into a mare; she hides among other horses to escape Poseidon.

In Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, "The Illiad", he characterizes Arion's superpower of speed, by remarking that no one in a chariot race can pass him. This swift, black and hard-to-tame horse uses wings to accelerate. In addition, powerful human feet inherited by Demeter help propel Poseidon's chariot. The flying horse, Arion, is sometimes confused with another horse Poseidon sired, Pegasus: Greek mythology's more familiar winged horse.

Greek mythological beings are easily confused. Over time versions of myths spread by word of mouth and alter through translation. But all versions confirm Arion's power to speak. In the "Description of Greece", Pausanias says Arion might also be the son of Earth or Gaea, instead of Demeter. Another myth variation is that Arion is the product of Poseidon and Zephyrus -- by way of a monster or Harpy. Mythological figures that ride the horse with the power of speech include Adrastus, Copreus and Hercules.

Adrastus is king of Argos during the war of Seven Against Thebes -- and the rider mostly identified with Arion. In the myth's classical play, "Seven Against Thebes", Oedipus' sons -- Eteocles and Polyneices -- share his kingdom until a disagreement. Eteocles banishes his brother from their kingdom. After Polyneices is expelled, he flees and marries the daughter of Adrastus, king of Argos. Polyneices convinces Adrastus to help assemble an army of warriors against his brother, Eteocles. King Adrastus is the only warrior that survives the battle. Arion, with the power of magic, saves the king's life by mystically freeing him from danger -- and transporting him off the battlefield to Athens.

Since the colt, Arion, is created by two immortals, he inherits the power of immortality and the power of intelligence. At the same time Demeter gives birth to Arion, she produces a girl, Desponia. Also, sporadic sources report the talking horse is gifted with the power of light. Occasionally, Greek mythological accounts refer to Arion as Swift Horse, Divine in Origin.

References

• Theoi: Aerion; Aaron Atsma; 2011
• [ http://www.theoi.com/Ther/HipposAreion.html ]
• Mythical Creatures Guide: Arion; 2011
• [ http://www.mythicalcreaturesguide.com/page/Arion ]
• God Checker: Arion; April 2013
• [ http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=arion ]
• Myth Beasts: Arion; 2014
• [ http://www.mythicalcreatureslist.com/mythical-creature/Arion ]
• Hollins Edu: Immortal Horses
• [ http://www1.hollins.edu/faculty/saloweyca/horse/immortal.htm ]
• Clan: Origin of the Name Arion
• [ http://www.clan-arion.com/docs/arion_name.htm ]
• Timeless Myths: Classical Mythology; Jimmy Joe; February 2008
• [ http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/beasts.html#Arion ]
• Google Books: The Classical Manual: An Epitome of Ancient Geography, Greek and Roman; James Baird; 2012
• [ http://books.google.com/books?id=oscVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=Adrastus+Eteocles+Polynices&source=bl&ots=umw2xPDE20&sig=qCTVoSBhu6bM_8zwEQbvGCjSmfw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aXZqVM30IMqhyATj1oCQDg&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Adrastus%20Eteocles%20Polynices&f=false ]