Unicorns and Winged Horses/The Midnight Summer Festival Ends Today

So this is the very last day...

I really do wish the festival had gone on far longer!

I have a very deep love for mythology,

and would enjoy

a longer time period in which

to post more articles related to this topic!

I wanted my last post to be about Norse mythology,

but just haven't had the time

to write it.

Those who have read my two previous posts

know that they took a lot of work.

If it weren't for my night job,

I would have been able to write the third post...

Oh, well...

Instead, I will feature my favorite

mythological creatures.

I got this idea from Kat @ A Myriad of Books.

She has several favorite mythological creatures, 

while I have two -- both equines!
I do like dragons and griffins,

but the creatures I absolutely prefer are...

unicorns, with or without wings,

and winged horses.

These creatures are so beautiful!!

Here are some pictures I discovered

at a fabulous website today,

Mystical Unicorn, by Unicorn Lady:

The Unicorn Gallery!

"Darkness"

David Jean

In this beautiful picture, there's a wingless unicorn

along with a winged horse.

They look so realistic!

"Winged Magic"

Lori Howe

This is so exquisite....

"October"

(Calendar Image)

This one is rather whimsical!

"Starlight Visit"

Sue Dawe

This image is very touching...it seems

that the winged horse, probably a male,

is courting the rather shy female unicorn...

And now a little background on winged horses

and unicorns!

Pegasus is the snowy-white, winged horse of Greek mythology,

sired by the Greek god Poseidon,

and foaled by the fearsome Gorgon Medusa.

In one legend, he was captured by the Greek hero

Bellerophon, and together they completed

many fantastic adventures.

Eventually, Zeus transformed him into the

constellation that bears his name.

Pegasus has been depicted in art and film,

and at times has been the symbol of wisdom.

Bellerophon on Pegasus spears the Chimera,

on an Attic red-figure epinetron,

425 - 420 B.C. 

Unicorns first appeared in Greek mythology as well.

They were also white, as was Pegasus, sometimes depicted

with a goat's beard, and with a spiral-shaped

horn growing from their foreheads.

They were especially popular in the Middle Ages

and the Renaissance,

becoming a symbol of purity and grace.

Indeed, part of the legend was that a unicorn could only

be captured by a young, virgin girl.

The famous The Hunt of the Unicorn

is a series of seven tapestry hangings depicting

these beautiful, fantastical creatures.

The tapestries are on display

in the Cloisters branch of the

Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

"The Unicorn Is Found"

(the second of the seven tapestries)