A putto is often called a cherub (plural cherubs) although unlike the Biblical cherub (plural cherubim) in form and symbolism: cherubim have four faces of different species and several pairs of wings, and are sacred, whereas putti are secular and represent a non-religious passion.
(The term stallion for an uncastrated male horse dates from this time; stallion = stalled one.) Stallion is also used to refer to males of other equids, including zebras and donkeys.
White stallions were the supreme sacrifice to the gods, and the Greek general Xenophon recorded that âgods and heroes are depicted on well-trained horses.â A beautiful and well-trained horse was, therefore, a status symbol in ancient Greece.