SOME HORSES OF MYTHOLOGY 99 



horse shown in the British Museum indicates 

 clearly the stamp of animal that was most highly 

 prized about that period. According to Greek 

 mythology, Selene was in love with the setting 

 sun, Endymion, and bore him fifty daughters in 

 addition to those she bore the god Zeus. 



Achilles' remarkable steed, Xanthos, was, we 

 are told, "human to all intents." When " severely 

 spoken to " by its master because on the battle- 

 field it had deserted Patroclos, the horse first 

 " looked about him sadly," and then, according to 

 the " Iliad," it told Achilles with a reproachful 

 expression in its eyes that he too would soon be 

 dead, for that this was "the inexorable decree of 

 of destiny " — a prophecy that came true. 



Achilles owned also the wonderful horse, Balios, 

 which first of all Neptune had given to Peleus. 

 The sire of Balios, like the sire of Xanthos, was 

 the West Wind, its dam the harpy, Swift Foot. 



According to Virgil the famous horse of Greek 

 mythology, Cyllaros, belonged to Pollux, and was 

 named after Cylla, in Troas. Ovid, however 

 affirms that it belonged to Castor, for in his 

 "Metamorphose" he says, when speaking of 

 Cyllaros, that "He, O Castor, was a courser 

 worthy thee . . . coal-black his colour, but like 

 jet it shone: His legs and flowing tail were white 

 alone." Then, Adrastos was saved at the siege 

 of Thebes by a horse famous for its speed and 

 given to him by Hercules. Its name was Arion, 



