History behind the NightMare?

Question

I've read Piers Anothony, I've seen the card from Magic The Gathering, and I played a game where the NightMare was a blue-eyed, black pegasus belonging to Death. I want to know if there is a mythological history behind the equine version of the NightMare. It's a little hard to dig around on the internet because Nightmare is such a widely used word.

Answer 1

The Night Mare was a Norse Myth. It was thought that the Night Mare visited those who were about to die and give them terrible dreams. She was also thought to sit on top of the dying person's chest, and that the death rattle one hears before death was the equine Snort. The Night Mare has also been called the Devil's horse, and Death's Mount. Some have even called the Night Mare a puca. Whether it ever had wings though is up to debate.

Descriptions of the Night Mare are always of a black mare who is where it should not be. Her eyes are either brilliant blue or blood red, and red foam is always spattered on her chest.

Answer 2

There are a lot of things known about the human brain and there is even more things that may forever remain unknown about the human brain. Could a nightmare be a bunch of jumbled up information about things that happen in our ancient past to current times. No one seems to know for sure. But the human brain is an amazing store house of information That goes back to the origin of mankind..... And who know maybe even beyond that. So until the human brain and the things that happen in the human brain can be interpreted our dream will forever remain a mystery.........

Answer 3

Once read that "Nightmare" is based in Norse legend.
Terrifying dreams were said to be caused by riding the "night mare" ,( the horse you described) .
All I got.
Might search Norse legends.

Answer 4

According to our tradition here in Greece, Nightmare was Devils beloved servant which appears every midnight on the sea surface and beggins his efforts to collect souls