Pegasus

Pegasus (Greek: Πήγασος, Pḗgasos; Latin: Pegasus, Pegasos) is a mythical winged divine stallion, and one of the most recognised creatures in Greek mythology. Usually depicted as pure white in color, Pegasus was a child of the Olympian god Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa[1] upon her death, when the hero Perseus decapitated her. Pegasus was also the brother of Chrysaor and the uncle of Geryon.
Greco-Roman poets wrote about the ascent of Pegasus to heaven after his birth, and his subsequent obeisance to Zeus, king of the gods, who instructed him to bring lightning and thunder from Olympus. Friend of the Muses, Pegasus is the creator of Hippocrene, the fountain on Mt. Helicon. Pegasus would be later caught by the Greek hero Bellerophonnear the fountain Peirene with the help of Athena and Poseidon. Pegasus allowed the hero to ride him in order to defeat the monstrous Chimera, leading on to many other exploits. His rider, however, later fell from his back trying to reach Mount Olympus. Afterwards, Zeus transformed Pegasus into the eponymous constellation and placed him up in the sky.
The symbolism of Pegasus varies with time. Symbolic of wisdom and especially of fame from the Middle Ages until the Renaissance, Pegasus became associated with poetry around the 19th century, as the originator or fountainhead of sources from which the poets gained their inspiration. Pegasus is the subject of a very rich iconography, especially through the ancient Greek pottery and paintings and sculptures of the Renaissance. Hypotheses have been proposed regarding the relationship between Pegasus and the Muses, the gods Athena, Poseidon, Zeus, Apollo, and the hero Perseus.
Category:Animals
Category:Creatures