Rocinante

Rocinante is the horse of Don Quixote, the fictional knight-errant at the center of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's novel Don Quixote. First published in two parts (1605 and 1615), the work follows Quixote's misadventures as he pursues chivalric ideals across La Mancha and beyond, with Rocinante as his companion.

Name and description: The name Rocinante is derived from rocín, a coarse, shabby horse, and is used by Quixote to dignify an aging mount. In the story, Rocinante is an aging, lean horse that Quixote imagines as a noble charger, mirroring the gap between fantasy and reality in the tale.

Role and symbolism: Rocinante accompanies Quixote on numerous escapades, serving as a foil to the knight's idealism. The relationship between rider and mount underscores the themes of illusion, perseverance, and the thin line between courage and folly in the novel.

Influence and usage: Since Cervantes's time, Rocinante has become a lasting symbol of Quixote's quest. The name has been adopted for various cultural references, including a famous spaceship in the science fiction series The Expanse, among other literary and artistic uses.