Taraxippus

Taraxippos ( ancient Greek Ταράξιππος, " upset " by ταράττειν = and ἵππος = " horse " meaning " horse fright " ) is the name of a demon, who let it pass to the popular belief of ancient Greece after the horses on the track, especially at the Olympics and the Isthmian Games. He embodied the risk of horse racing.

Due to a report of Pausanias the deity is brought with a round altar on the eastern side of the Hippodrome in conjunction with the exact localization of the altar described by Pausanias is controversial. According to Pausanias, the horses were allegedly taken when passing through this point for no apparent reason of sudden fear, so often charioteer were injured. Therefore, the charioteer said to have offered sacrifice on the altar of Taraxippos to vote him graciously. For the origin of the phenomenon Pausanias offers several explanations for this: one is narrated that a certain Olenios, who was an excellent rider, said to have been buried at this location. According to another version, it is the grave of Dameon, a son of Phlios, who had taken part in Heracles ' campaign against the Eleier been there from Kteatos, the son of the actor, killed and was buried along with his horse there. One further according to tradition, was Pelops build at this point a memorial for the murdered of his charioteer Myrtilus to appease his spirit. Also, the charioteer Alcathous, son of Porthaon is contacted with Taraxippos in connection: He is, after he was the king Oenomaus inferior in a chariot race and was killed by this, scare you out of jealousy the other horses charioteer. Pausanias also gives an Egyptian tradition, again, is said to have buried there a magic item after Pelops, who have already added the horses of Oenomaus and all the charioteer after him in fear.

Sometimes Taraxippos is also used as epithet of Poseidon.

At other known race tracks in ancient Greece there should have been similar phenomena: In the Isthmian games to Glaucus, son of Sisyphus, who was killed by his own race horses, unsettle at the racecourse the horses; in Nemea is located above the inflection point of the racecourse of Nemeen a red rocks have been found, in which horses are often frightened. Both phenomena estimates Pausanias but as a less dangerous than the Taraxippos in Olympia. In his description of Delphi, Pausanias expressly points out that there is no Taraxippos at the local racetrack, although occasionally there charioteer would be violated.