Taraxippos

In the Greek Mythology, Taraxippos or Taraxippus (of the Greek taraxis , “confusion” and hippos , “horse”) is a phantom which terrified the horses at the time of the horse-races often causing accidents. Horses, when they saw it became timorous and frightened. The myth has several origins.

Taraxippos of Olympie

Its history is related to Pélops and Hippodamie. It would be then the phantom of Myrtilos, wire of Hermes, which was charon and which adulterated the tank of Pélops. This last, insane of rage to have lost the race assassinated it treacherously. Invaded remorse, it decided to set up a furnace bridge on its behalf in the Hippodrome of Olympie. Before each race, one makes offerings and the drivers of tanks address prayers to him.

Other origins are evoked by Pausanias; one thinks that it would be about Olénios, which has to give the name to the stones olénianes or of Daméon, wire of Philios, whom left in forwarding with Héraclès against Augias, where he was killed by Kteatos. Its body as its horse was buried in the same tomb. One also speaks about certain Alcathos, wire of Porthaon. Killed by Œnomaos because he courted Hippodamie. It would more probably be about a nickname of Poséidon.

Taraxippos of Corinth

There is also another Taraxippos with Isthmios, named Glaucos, wire of Sisyphus. It is said that it was killed by its own horses, when it faced Askatos in the honor of his father (according to Voyages in Greece of Pausanias).

Taraxippos of Némée

Pausanias also speaks about another Taraxippos which frightens the horses in the turn but specifies that it is less alarming.

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