Pegasus

Bellerophon riding Pegasus

Pegasus (Greek: Πήγασοςcode: el is deprecated , Pégasos, 'strong') is a flying horse with wings in Greek mythology. He is the son of Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa.

The myth of the Pegasus is interesting and educational, and helps us understand an era gone by.

The Pegasus is a white horse with wings that can fly. It is very beautiful, and can only be controlled with a golden bridle given to Bellerophon by Athena.

Long ago, Perseus killed the monster Medusa using a reflective shield and winged sandals. He cut off her head, which had the hair of poisonous snakes and was so ugly it would turn to stone anyone who looked at it straight on, and from her blood sprang the winged horse Pegasus. Some stories say that Perseus rode Pegasus away, but other stories say he left before Pegasus was born.

Years later, there was a young man named Bellerophon, living in Corinth. Bellerophon had always longed to ride Pegasus, but Pegasus refused to be tamed. Bellerophon decided to pray to Athena, who was the Greek goddess of wisdom. Athena gave him a golden bridle that allowed him to capture Pegasus.

Later, the brother of a king sent Bellerophon on a quest to defeat the Chimera, a legendary beast with the head of a lion that breathed fire, a goat’s head sprouting from its back, and the tail of a snake. Together, they defeated it and Bellerophon was honored. Then Bellerophon decided he wanted to be immortal and tried to fly with Pegasus to Mount Olympus, home of the gods. Zeus, angry, sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, who bucked Bellerophon back to Earth.

After Pegasus left Bellerophon, he sired children by horses, and produced offspring, Pegasi.

Pegasus Media

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  Pegasus attacking the Chimera with his hooves, above the hero Bellerophon, on a Laconian black-figure kylix, attributed to the Boreads Painter and dating to c. 575–550 BC

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  Bellerophon mounted on Pegasus fighting the Chimera, side A from an Attic red-figure pelike

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  Bellerophon riding Pegasus and slaying the Chimera, central medallion of a Gallo-Roman mosaic from Autun, Musée Rolin, 2nd to 3rd century AD

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  Bellerophon and the Chimera, edge of an Attic red-figure epinetron (thigh-protector used by a woman when weaving)

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  Bellerophon fighting the Chimera on an Athenian black-figure Siana cup found in Camiros (Rhodes)

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  Silver coin of Syracuse: obverse, head of Athena wearing a Corinthian helmet adorned with a griffin; reverse, Pegasus flying and beneath him a triskeles

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  The emblem of the World War II, British Airborne Forces, Bellerophon riding the flying horse Pegasus

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  Benvenuto Cellini's 1537 coin.

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  Wing of the Pegasus Airlines plane

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  Bellerophon, Pegasus, and Athena, fresco of the 3rd style from Pompeii, first half of the 1st century

References

• Felson, Nancy. "Pegasus." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012.Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
• Legon, Ronald P. "Corinth." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012.Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
• "The Pegasus." American Museum of Natural History. American Museum of Natural History, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/mythic-creatures/air-creatures-of-the-sky/greek-myths/>.