Pegasus – winged horse of Poseidon and Medusa

Pegasus is one of the most famous and beloved mythical creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged horse, usually white in color, that was born from the blood of the gorgon Medusa when she was slain by the hero Perseus. Pegasus is often associated with the Muses, the goddesses of art and inspiration, and he became their mount after he was tamed by the poet Bellerophon. Pegasus also played a role in many heroic adventures and divine interventions, and he eventually ascended to the heavens, where he became a constellation and the servant of Zeus.

The Story of Pegasus in Greek Mythology

In this essay, I will explore the story of Pegasus in Greek mythology, and examine its impact on various aspects of culture, such as art, literature, philosophy, and science. I will also analyze the symbolism and meaning of Pegasus, and how he represents the ideals and values of the ancient Greeks and the modern world.

Birth

According to the most common version of the myth, Pegasus was born from the blood of Medusa, the infamous Gorgon who had snakes for hair and could turn anyone who looked at her into stone. Medusa was once a beautiful maiden who served as a priestess of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. However, she was seduced by Poseidon, the god of the sea, in Athena’s temple, which enraged the goddess. Athena cursed Medusa and transformed her into a hideous monster, and also made her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, into Gorgons.

Medusa and her sisters lived in a remote island, where they terrorized anyone who dared to approach them. Many heroes tried to slay them, but none succeeded, until Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, accepted the challenge. Perseus was aided by Athena and Hermes, the messenger god, who gave him a shield, a sword, a helmet of invisibility, and a pair of winged sandals. He also received help from the Graeae, the three old sisters who shared one eye and one tooth, and who were the Gorgons’ guardians. Perseus tricked them into revealing the location of the Gorgons, and then flew to their island.

Perseus managed to avoid the gaze of Medusa and her sisters by using his shield as a mirror. He then beheaded Medusa with his sword, and quickly put her head in a magic bag. As he did so, two miraculous creatures sprang forth from her neck: Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor, the golden-sworded warrior. These were the children of Poseidon and Medusa, who had been conceived before her curse. Pegasus and Chrysaor flew away from the island, while Perseus escaped from the furious Gorgons.

The Adventures of Pegasus and Bellerophon

Pegasus and Chrysaor went their separate ways, and Pegasus wandered around the world, creating springs and fountains wherever he landed. One of these springs was the Hippocrene, which means “horse spring”, on Mount Helicon, the sacred mountain of the Muses. The water of this spring was believed to have the power to inspire poets and artists, and Pegasus became the symbol of the Muses and their patronage.

Pegasus was also sought after by many heroes and kings, who wanted to ride him and use him for their quests. However, Pegasus was wild and elusive, and no one could catch him or tame him, until Bellerophon, the son of Glaucus and Eurymede. Bellerophon was a brave and noble hero who performed many deeds with the help of Pegasus. He was also the victim of a false accusation by Stheneboea, the wife of King Proetus of Tiryns, who fell in love with him and tried to seduce him. When Bellerophon rejected her, she told her husband that he had tried to rape her, and Proetus sent him to King Iobates of Lycia, with a sealed letter that asked him to kill Bellerophon.

Iobates did not want to kill Bellerophon himself, so he assigned him a series of impossible tasks, hoping that he would die in the process. The first task was to slay the Chimera, a fire-breathing monster that had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. Bellerophon knew that he could not defeat the Chimera on foot, so he prayed to the gods for help. Athena heard his prayer and gave him a golden bridle, which she had received from Poseidon, and told him to find Pegasus and tame him.

Bellerophon followed Athena’s instructions and found Pegasus drinking from the Pierian spring, another water source associated with the Muses. He threw the golden bridle over Pegasus’ head, and the winged horse recognized it as a sign of divine favor. He allowed Bellerophon to mount him and became his loyal companion. Together, they flew to the lair of the Chimera and killed it with Bellerophon’s spear and Pegasus’ hooves.

Bellerophon returned to Iobates with the news of his victory, but the king was not convinced. He gave him another task, to fight against the Solymi, a fierce and warlike tribe that lived in the mountains. Bellerophon and Pegasus defeated them as well, and then faced another challenge, to battle against the Amazons, the legendary women warriors. They also emerged victorious from this encounter, and returned to Iobates once more.

Iobates realized that Bellerophon was favored by the gods, and decided to stop trying to kill him. He apologized for his actions and offered him his daughter, Philonoe, as a wife. He also gave him half of his kingdom and honored him as a hero. Bellerophon lived happily for a while, enjoying the love of his wife and the respect of his people. He also continued to ride Pegasus and perform heroic deeds, such as rescuing a princess from a tyrant king.

The Fall of Bellerophon

However, Bellerophon’s happiness did not last long. He became arrogant and proud, and forgot to be grateful to the gods. He started to think that he was equal to them, and that he deserved to live among them on Mount Olympus. Bellerophon also neglected his wife and his duties, and spent his time flying with Pegasus. He decided to attempt the ultimate challenge, to reach the heavens and join the gods.

This act of hubris angered Zeus, the king of the gods, who saw Bellerophon as a threat and an insult. He sent a gadfly, a small and annoying insect, to sting Pegasus and make him buck and shake. Bellerophon lost his balance and fell from Pegasus’ back, plunging to the earth. He survived the fall, but he was crippled and blinded, and he wandered around the world in misery and pain, shunned by everyone. He died alone and forgotten, while Pegasus continued to fly to Olympus, where he was welcomed by the gods.

Pegasus in the Heavens

Pegasus reached the heavens and became a constellation, one of the largest and brightest in the sky. He also became the servant of Zeus, who entrusted him with the task of carrying his thunderbolts and lightning. Pegasus was honored by the gods and admired by the mortals, who looked up to him as a symbol of beauty, freedom, and creativity.

The Impact of Pegasus in Culture

Pegasus has had a lasting impact on various aspects of culture, such as art, literature, philosophy, and science. He has inspired many artists and writers, who have depicted him in various forms and media, such as paintings, sculptures, mosaics, coins, stamps, and logos. He has also been the subject of many poems, stories, plays, and novels, such as the Metamorphoses by Ovid, the Divine Comedy by Dante, the Faerie Queene by Spenser, the Pegasus Bridge by Ambrose, and the Percy Jackson series by Riordan.

Pegasus has also influenced many philosophers and thinkers, who have interpreted his story and symbolism in different ways. For example, Plato saw Pegasus as a representation of the soul’s ascent to the realm of ideas, and the Hippocrene spring as a source of wisdom and knowledge. In contrast, Nietzsche saw Pegasus as a manifestation of the Apollonian spirit, the rational and artistic aspect of human nature, and Bellerophon as a tragic hero who tried to overcome the Dionysian spirit, the irrational and chaotic aspect of human nature.

Pegasus has also affected many scientific discoveries and inventions, especially in the fields of astronomy and aviation. He has given his name to a constellation, a galaxy, a nebula, an asteroid, and a lunar crater. He has also inspired many pioneers and innovators, who have named their aircrafts, rockets, satellites, and space missions after him, such as the Pegasus rocket, the Pegasus satellite, the Pegasus XL, and the Pegasus barge.