Hippocampus

More than a seahorse

A hippocampus is a sea monster, a mix of horse (‘hippo’ in Greek) in the front and fish (‘campos’ in Greek) in the back.

In Greek mythology the hippocampus appears as the draught animal or mount for various sea gods, including Neptune. The front part sometimes has wings, while the fish part at the rear with its dorsal fin is often rolled up like a serpent.

Images of hippocampi can be found on ancient coins and in Etruscan tombs. These people imagined that when they died they would undertake a journey across the sea – with hippocampi – to the other side. These mythological creatures are also the subject of mosaics in Roman baths. Wonderful seahorse sculptures can be found on the Trevi Fountain in Rome. And one of the greatest Italian maritime powers of the Early Modern Age, Venice, still uses these creatures to decorate its gondolas.

The half-ibex, half-fish is a close relation of the hippocampus. There are representations of Aphrodite from the 3th century which show her ploughing through the ocean accompanied by Triton and his dolphin. And Neptune’s consorts, the nereids, protectors of castaways, also make use of half-horse, half-fish composite creatures.