The hippocamp is a mythical sea creature with the head, body, and forelegs of a horse and the tail of a fish, often resembling that of a dolphin. It is commonly depicted with a tufted or scaled tail, webbed or tufted hooves, and, in some representations, wings.
In classical mythology, the hippocamp was associated with Poseidon (Neptune), god of the sea, who was believed to have created the horse and to maintain a stable beneath the ocean. As a result, hippocamps are frequently shown drawing the chariots of sea deities in ancient art and sculpture.
Beyond mythology, the hippocamp appears as a recurring motif in arabesque and marine-themed decorative arts. It is also found in emblematic ornamentation, most notably as a decorative element on Venetian gondolas, where it serves both symbolic and aesthetic functions.
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