Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids

Mythic Creatures | Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids

At A Glance: Pegasus

	Pegasus was the son of the monster Medusa and Poseidon, the god of the seas and of horses.
	Pegasus was kind, helpful and never greedy. The constellation named after him even shares a star with the constellation of Andromeda, a maiden he had helped save.
	White horse with wings
	Pegasus allowed only two mortals to ride him: the heroes Perseus and Bellerophon.

A Hero's Horse
A long time ago, the Greek hero Bellerophon set out to kill the fire-breathing Chimera, a beast with a lion's head, a goat's body and a serpent's tail. The goddess Athena helped Bellerophon tame Pegasus, and with the winged horse's aid, Bellerophon killed the monster.

After this glorious victory, Bellerophon thought himself the equal of the gods and urged Pegasus to fly him to Mount Olympus. But Bellerophon's arrogance enraged the gods. Zeus sent a fly to bite Pegasus, causing him to rear back and sending Bellerophon hurtling to the ground. Pegasus remained at Olympus for the rest of his life, carrying Zeus's lightning bolts on his back. And when Pegasus died, Zeus transformed him into a constellation, which can be seen to this day.

—Adapted from Homer's Iliad, c. 800-600 BC, and other ancient Greek myths

Coins
Stories of Pegasus were particularly popular in the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. The winged horse was used as the city's emblem and appeared on coins of the city for hundreds of years.

Carved Pegasus
A carved Pegasus figure, made by artist Joe Leonard for a private collector, is styled after the animals found on carousels. The statue's wings, however, would make it impossible for anyone to sit on the creature's back.

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