Why did Demeter have a mare's head?

Question

I know about her changing into a horse to hide from Poseidon, but can anyone tell me why she had a mare's head afterwards? I read it in Greek Myths I and II by Robert Graves. Please answer as soon as possible... thanks!!

To ESweetPea-- meaning a woman/goddess with a horse head would make her a powerful being that--- what?

To Everyone- thanks for answering, by the way~~!

Answer 1

In Arcadia she was worshipped as a horse headed godess, Mr. Graves is mixing his mythology. There were so many stories told, in so many different regions, each deity would require their own volume.

Answer 2

In Greek mythology, a mix of different animals created a chimera, a mythical beast that had the characteristics associated with each animal part all in one package. Like, a lion with wings would be a strong, courageous animal that could also rise above the fray of daily life (a griffin.)

Some people were part animals, like satyrs (goat legs), Pan (goat legs and horns), centaurs (half horse), and harpies/sirens (women or birds or sometimes woman-birds.) But it's unusual to see a goddess with a horse head--more often, you'd see something like the Sphinx, with a human head and an animal body (lion, in this case.)

But horses are cool, so I guess you could do worse than having a horse's head. King Midas had donkey ears, but that's because he made a stupid wish and managed to have it removed, so he needed to be punished for being a jacka ss.

Answer 3

Because the goat head was already taken perhaps.