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Greek Mythology >> Bestiary >> Automotons >> Horses of the Cabeiri (Hippoi Kabeirikoi)

HIPPOI KABEIRIKOI

Greek Name

Ἱπποι Καβειρικοι

Transliteration

Hippoi Kabeirikoi

Latin Spelling

Hippoi Cabeirici

Translation

Horses of the Cabeiri

THE HIPPOI KABEIRIKOI (Horses of the Cabeiri) were four horse-shaped, bronze automotones crafted by the god Hephaistos (Hephaestus) to draw the adamantine chariot of his Kabeiroi sons.

PARENTS

Forged by HEPHAISTOS (Nonnus Dionysiaca 29.193)

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 29. 193 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"[The Kabeiroi (Cabeiri)] rode in a car of adamant; a pair of colts beat the dust with rattling hooves of brass, and they sent out a dry whinnying from their throats. These father Hephaistos *Hephaestus) had made with his inimitable art, breathing defiant fire between their teeth, like the pair of brazenfooted bulls which he made for Aietes the redoubtable ruler of the Kolkhians (Colchians), with hot collars and burning pole. Eurymedon [one of the Kabeiroi] drove and guided the fiery mouths of the ironfoot steeds with a fiery bridle."

SOURCES

GREEK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.