Bellerophon Bellerophon See More Bellerophon Pictures > Bellerophon provides a lesson in the proper relationship between a mortal hero and the gods. When he was young he honored the gods and won their favor, but eventually his pride got the better of him and led to his downfall. Bellerophon was the son of Poseidon and Eurynome , wife of Glaucus . He was raised by Glaucus who thought Bellerophon was his own son. Considering that both Poseidon and Glaucus were interested in horses, it is not surprising that Bellerophon quested after Pegasus . After many failures, he asked the seer Polyeidus for help. Following Polyeidus' instructions, he spent the night in a temple of Athena . There, he had a dream that the goddess offered him a magical, golden bridle. He awoke and found the bridle he dreamt about in his hands. He sensibly made a sacrifice to both Athena and Poseidon . Afterwards, he went to the meadow Pegasus was grazing at, and was able to bridle and tame the horse without difficulty.

Triumphant in his success, he went to King Pittheus and received permission to marry his daughter Aethra . However, before the marriage, he accidentally killed a man, possibly one of his brothers, and was banished. He went to King Proetus to be excused for his crime. The king pardoned him, but during his stay at Proetus 's house, the King's wife, Stheneboea , attempted to seduce him. As an honorable man Bellerophon rejected her advances. This infuriated Stheneboea who then falsely accused him of attempting to seduce her. Greatly upset, Proetus wanted to be rid of Bellerophon without having to accuse him publicly. He was also concerned about harming a house guest, as this was an offence to the gods. So, he sent Bellerophon to deliver a sealed message to his wife's father, King Iobates . Arriving on Pegasus , Bellerophon was warmly received and settled in as Iobates ' house guest. Iobates unsealed and read the message thus learning of Stheneboea 's accusations against Bellerophon .

This left Iobates in the same predicament of acting against a guest that had troubled Proetus . Iobates ' solution was to ask Bellerophon to undertake a series of heroic, but deadly tasks. However, Bellerophon 's courage and skill as an archer, combined with Pegasus ' help, allowed him to prevail. In addition, his parentage, his sacrifices, and his acts of honour gave him the favour of the gods. His first task was to kill the terrible Chimaera . Succeeding, he was sent to conquer the neighbouring Solymi tribe, which was Iobates ' traditional enemy. When he defeated them, the King sent him to fight the Amazons . He was again victorious. In desperation, Iobates led an ambush against Bellerophon using his entire army; the army was killed to the last man. At this point, Iobates had the wisdom to notice that something was very wrong. He realized that the gods favoured Bellerophon and that this favor would not have been given to a dishonorable house guest. Iobates succeed in making amends by giving Bellerophon half his kingdom, including the best farmlands and his daughter Philonoe in marriage.

There are two stories concerning the fate of Stheneboea . One says that Bellerophon extracted revenge by taking her for a ride on Pegasus , then shoving her off to fall to her death. In the other version, Stheneboea hears that Bellerophon has married her sister. She knows that this means her slander would be revealed and chose to kill herself. It appeared that Bellerophon would live happily ever after. His glorious deeds were widely sung. He was happily married. Philonoe bore him two sons, Isander and Hippolochus, and two daughters, Laodameia and Deidameia. As a king his subjects loved and honored him. However, this was not enough for Bellerophon . In his arrogance, he decided that he could ride Pegasus to Mount Olympus and visit the gods. Zeus quickly put an end to his trip by sending the gadfly to sting Pegasus and dismount Bellerophon . He survived his fall, but was crippled. He spent the rest of his life wandering the earth. No man would help him because of his offense to the gods. He died alone with no one to record his fate.

PEGASUS (Pegasos) - Winged Horse of Greek Mythology Of the Spring (pêgê) Pegasus at the spring, Apulian red-figure vase C4th B.C., Tampa Museum of Art PEGASOS (Pegasus) was an immortal, winged horse which sprang from the neck of the beheaded Gorgon Medousa (Medusa). It was tamed by Bellerophon who rode it into battle against the fire-breathing monster known as the Khimaira (Chimera) . Later the hero attempted to fly to heaven but Zeus caused the horse to buck throwing him back down to earth in disgrace. Pegasos winged his way on to Olympos where he became the thunderbolt-bearer of Zeus. Pegasos was commemorated amongst the stars as the constellation of the same name. Its rising marks the arrival of spring and, in Greece, of seasonal thunderstorms. Pegasos' name means either "of the spring" from the Greek word pêgê, or "sprung forth" from the word pêgazô.

The first alludes to the steed's connection with various springs, and the latter to its birth from the Gorgon's neck. FAMILY OF PEGASUS PARENTS [1.1] POSEIDON & MEDOUSA (Hesiod Theogony 278, Apollodorus 2.32 & 2.42, Hyginus Fabulae 151 & Astronomica 2.18, Ovid Metamorphoses 4.781 & 6.119) [1.2] MEDOUSA (Pindar Olympian Ode, Nonnus Dionysiaca 24.270) ENCYCLOPEDIA PE′GASUS (Pêgasos). The famous winged horse, whose origin is thus related. When Perseus struck off the head of Medusa, with whom Poseidon had had intercourse in the form of a horse or a bird, there sprang forth from her Chrysaor and the horse Pegasus. The latter obtained the name Pegasus because he was believed to have made his appearance near the sources (pêgai) of Oceanus.

Pegasus rose up to the seats of the immortals, and afterwards lived in the palace of Zeus, for whom he carried thunder and lightning (IIes. Theog. 281, &c.; Apollod. ii. 3. § 2, 4. § 2 ; Schol. ad Aristoph. Pac. 722; comp. Ov. Met. iv. 781, &c. vi. 119). According to this view, which is apparently the most ancient, Pegasus was the thundering horse of Zeus; but later writers describe him as the horse of Eos (Schol. ad Hom. Il. vi. 155; Tzetz. ad Lyc. 17), and place him among the stars as the heavenly horse (Arat. Phaen. 205, &c.; Hygin. Poet. Astr. ii. 18 Ov. Fast. iii. 457, &c.). Pegasus also acts a prominent part in the fight of Bellerophon against the Chimaera (Hes. Theog. 325; Apollod. ii. 3. § 2).

After Bellerophon had tried and suffered much to obtain possession of Pegasus for his fight against the Chimaera, he consuited the soothsayer Polyidus at Corinth. The latter advised him to spend a night in the temple of Athena, and, as Bellerophon was sleeping, the goddess appeared to him in a dream, commanding him to sacrifice to Poseidon, and gave him a golden bridle. When he awoke he found the bridle, offered the sacrifice, and caught Pegasus, who was drinking at the well Peirene (Pind. Ol. xiii. 90, &c. with the Schol.; Strab. viii. p. 379). According to some Athena herself tamed and bridled Pegasus, and surrendered him to Bellerophon (Paus. ii. 4. § 1), or Bellerophon received Pegasus from his own father Poseidon (Schol. ad Hom. Il. vi. 155). After he had conquered the Chimaera (Pindar says that he also conquered the Amazons and the Solymi, Ol. xiii.

125), he endeavoured to rise up to heaven with his winged horse, but fell down upon the earth, either from fear or from giddiness, or being thrown off by Pegasus, who was rendered furious by a gad-fly which Zeus had sent. But Pegasus continued his flight (Hygin. Poet. Astr. ii. 18 ; Pind. Isthm. vii. 6; Tzetz. ad Lyc. 17; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 636). Whether Hesiod considered Pegasus as a winged horse, cannot be inferred with certainty from the word apoptamenose; but Pindar, Euripides, and the other later writers, expressly mention his wings. Pegasus lastly was also regarded as the horse of the Muses, and in this capacity he is more celebrated in modern times than he ever was in antiquity ; for with the ancients he had no connection with the Muses, except that by his hoof he called forth the inspiring well Hippocrene. The story about this well runs as follows.

When the nine Muses engaged in a contest with the nine daughters of Pierus on Mount Helicon, all became darkness when the daughters of Pierus began to sing ; whereas during the song of the Muses, heaven, the sea, and all the rivers stood still to listen, and Helicon rose heavenward with delight, until Pegasus, on the advice of Poseidon, stopped its rising by kicking it with his hoof (Anton. Lib. 9); and from this kick there arose Hippocrene, the inspiring well of the Muses, on Mount Helicon, which, for this reason, Persius (Prol. 1) calls fons caballinus (Ov. Met. v. 256). Others again relate that Pegasus caused the well to gush forth because he was thirsty; and in other parts of Greece also similar wells were believed to have been called forth by Pegasus, such as Hippocrene, at Troezene, and Peirene, near Corinth (Paus. ii. 31. § 12; Stat. Theb iv. 60). Pegasus is often seen represented in ancient works of art and on coins along with Athena and Bellerophon.

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES THE BIRTH OF PEGASUS Birth of Pegasus and Chrysaor, beheaded Medusa, Perseus and the Gorgons, Athenian black-figure pyxis C6th B.C., Musée du Louvre Hesiod, Theogony 280 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : "But when Perseus had cut off the head of Medousa (Medusa) there sprang from her blood stout-hearted Khrysaor (Chrysaor) and the horse Pegasos so named from the springs (pegai) of Okeanos (Oceanus), where he was born." Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 42 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "When he [Perseus] saw Medousa (Medusa), he beheaded her.

As soon as her head was severed there leaped from her body the winged horse Pegasos and Khrysaor (Chrysaor), the father of Geryon. The father of these two was Poseidon." Lycophron, Alexandra 840 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) : "The harvester [Perseus] who delivered of her [Medousa's (Medusa's)] pains in birth of horse [Pegasos] and man [Khrysaor (Chrysaor)] the stony-eyed weasel whose children sprang from her neck.” Strabo, Geography 8. 6. 20 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "Pegasos, a winged horse which sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medousa (Medusa) when her head was cut off." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 151 (trans.

Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "From Medusa, daughter of Gorgon, and Neptunus [Poseidon], were born Chrysaor and horse Pegasus." Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 786 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "While deep sleep held fast Medusa and her snakes, he [Perseus] severed her head clean from her neck; and from their mother's blood swift-flying Pegasus and his brother [Khrysaor (Chrysaor)] sprang . . . she [Medusa], it's said, was violated in Minerva's [Athena's] shrine by the Lord of the Sea (Rector Pelagi) [Poseidon]." Ovid, Metamorphoses 6. 119 ff : "[Poseidon] as a bird [mated with] the snake-haired mother [Medousa (Medusa)] of the flying steed [Pegasos]." Ovid, Fasti 3. 449 ff (trans.Boyle) (Roman poetry C1st B.C.

to C1st A.D.) : "Men believe it [Pegasos] sprang with its blood-spattered mane from the butchered Medusa's pregnant neck. As it glided above the clouds and beneath the stars, the sky was its earth and wings were its feet." Nonnus, Dionysiaca 31. 13 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : "As Medousa (Medusa) was slain [by Perseus], the neck was delivered of its twin birth, the Horse [Pegasos] and the Boy with the golden sword [Khrysaor (Chrysaor)]." Nonnus, Dionysiaca 24.

270 ff : "[Perseus] shore off the snaky swathe of one Medousa, while her womb was still burdened and swollen with young, still in foal of Pegasos; what good if the sickle played the part of childbirth Eileithyia, and reaped the neck of the pregnant Gorgon, firstfruits of a horsebreeding neck?" PEGASUS & THE SPRING OF HIPPOCRENE Hippokrene (Hippocrene) was the sacred spring of the Mousai (Muses) on Mount Helikon (Helicon) in Boiotia. It was said to have burst forth from the ground where struck by the hoof of the winged horse Pegasos. Aratus, Phaenomena 206 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek astronomical poem C3rd B.C.) : "The huge [constellation] Horse (Hippos) . . . He [Pegasos] it was, men say, that brought down from lofty Helikon (Helicon) the bright water of bounteous Hippokrene (Hippocrene).

For not yet on Helikon's summit trickled the fountain's springs, but the Horse smote it and straightway the gushing water was shed abroad at the stamp of his forefoot, and herdsmen were the first to call that stream the fountain of the Horse. From the rock the water wells and never shalt thou see it far from the men of Thespiai (Thespiae); but the Horse himself circles in the heaven of Zeus and is there for thee to behold." Strabo, Geography 8. 6. 20 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "The same horse [Pegasos], it is said, caused Hippu-krene (Horse Fountain) to spring up on Helikon (Helicon) when he struck with his hoof the rock that lay below that mountain." Pausanias, Description of Greece 9. 31. 3 (trans.

Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : "Ascending about twenty stades from this grove [of the Mousai (Muses) on Mount Helikon in Boiotia] is what is called the Hippokrene (Hippocrene, Horse's Fountain). It was made, they say, by [Pegasos] the horse of Bellerophon striking the ground with this hoof." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 31. 9 : "Among the means of cleansing [by ritual purification] which they say they [the people of Troizenos (Troezen), Argolis] used to cleanse Orestes was water from Hippokrene (Horse's Fountain}; for the Troizenians too have a fountain called the Horse's, and the legend about it does not differ from the one which prevails in Boiotia (Boeotia).

For they, too, say that the earth sent up the water when the horse Pegasos struck the ground with his hoof, and that Bellerophontes came to Troizenos to ask Pittheus to give him Aithra (Aethra) to wife." Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 9 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "When the Mousai (Muses) sang, heaven, the stars, the sea and rivers stood still, while Mount Helikon (Helicon), beguiled by the pleasure of it all, swelled skyward till, by the will of Poseidon, Pegasos checked it by striking the summit with his hoof." Callistratus, Descriptions 7 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C4th A.D.) : "On Helikon (Helicon)--the spot is a shaded precinct sacred to the Mousai (Muses)--near the torrent of the river Olmeios and the violet-dark spring of Pegasos, there stood the [statues of the] Mousai." Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 18 (trans.

Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Pegasus, offspring of Neptunus [Poseidon] and the Gorgon Medusa, who on Helicon, a mountain of Boeotia, opened up a spring by striking the rock with his hoof. From him the spring is called Hippocrene." Ovid, Fasti 3. 449 ff (trans.Boyle) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "It [Pegasos] had only just protested its strange bridling [by Bellerophon], when its light hoof dug Aonia's spring [i.e. the Hippokrene (HIppocrene)]." Ovid, Metamorphoses 5. 254 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "Helicon, the Musae's (Muses') mountain home.

Alighting there she [Athena] stopped and thus addressed the learned sisters : ‘there has reached my ears a tale of a new fountain that burst forth beneath the hooves of flying Medusaeus [Pegasos, child of Medousa (Medusa)]. That is my journey's purpose, my desire to see the miracle. I saw that horse brought into being from his mother's blood.’ Uranie replied : ‘Whatever cause may bring you to our home, you find our hearts most welcoming. The tale indeed is true; the author of the spring is Pegasus.’ She led Pallas [Athena] to the sacred spring. The waters issuing from his hoof's hard stroke long held her wondering eyes; then she gazed round at the green bowers of the ancient woods, the caves and grottoes and the spangled lawns with all their countless flowers." Propertius, Elegies 3. 3 (trans.

Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) : "I dreamed that lying in the soft shade of Helicon, where flows the fountain of Bellerophon's horse [Pegasos], I possessed the power to proclaim my lyre's accompaniment Alba's kings and their deeds." Nonnus, Dionysiaca 44. 6 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : "A fountain [Hippokrene (Hippocrene)] bubbled on the spot where the horse's [Pegasos'] wet hoof scratched the surface of the ground and made a hollow for the water which took its name from him." PEGASUS, BELLEROPHON & THE CHIMERA Bellerophon, Pegasus and the Chimera, Laconian black-figure kylix C6th B.C., The J. Paul Getty Museum Hesiod, Theogony 325 ff (trans.

Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : "But Khimaira (Chimera) was killed by Pegasos and gallant Bellerophon." Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 7 (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : "And when he [Bellerophon] began to roam, his father [Poseidon] gave him Pegasos who would bear him most swiftly on his wings, and flew unwearying everywhere over the earth, for like the gales he would course along. With him Bellerophon caught and slew the fire-breathing Khimaira (Chimera)." Pindar, Olympian Ode 13. 63 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) : "[Bellerophon] once strove in vain beside Peirene's spring, and suffered much, seeking to yoke the snake-haired Gorgo's offspring, Pegasos. Till Pallas [Athena], goddess maid, brought him the bridle and golden headband, and behold a dream was truth.

‘Sleep not, Aiolid king,’ said she, ‘but take this charm of steeds, and offer the Horse-Tamer [Poseidon], your sire, a snow-white bull, and show to him this bridle.’ Such words, as he lay slumbering in the dark, it seemed the maiden of the shadowy aegis spoke unto him, and he leapt to his feet and seized the magic bit, that lay beside him on the ground; and went with joy to find the prophet of his country's people the son of Korianos (Corianus). And he made known to him the whole issue of this strange matter--how that he had lain the whole night through upon the goddess' altar, as the seer had foretold him, and how the child of Zeus whose sword is lightning, in her own hands brought him the golden charm that tames the savage spirit. And the prophet bade him obey at once the magic vision, and to Poseidon, the earth-holder, to sacrifice the strong-limbed bull. Then too that he should build an altar with all speed to Athene, queen of steeds.

Yet the gods' power can lightly bring to pass such things as will deny both the sworn word and all the hopes of men. Thus with all zeal mighty Bellerophon seized the winged steed, setting between his jaws the soothing charm, and mounting him, in his bronze panoply played him in sport, to try his pace. And once, with him, he smote the Amazones (Amazons), from the chill bosom of the lonely air, that archered host of women-kind; and felled Khimaira (Chimera) breathing fire, and slew the Solymoi (Solymi). His fate--'twere best unspoken. But Pegasos dwells in the ancient stalls of Zeus upon Olympos." Pindar, Isthmian Ode 7. 44 ff : "Pegasos winged high threw down to earth his lord Bellerophon, who thought to reach the abodes of heaven, and share the company of Zeus. Sweets gained unrightly await an end most bitter." Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 32 (trans.

Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Bellerophon mounted Pegasos, his winged horse born of Medousa (Medusa) and Poseidon, and flying into the air brought down the Khimaira (Chimera) with his bow and arrows." Strabo, Geography 8. 6. 20 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "Peirene [a spring of the city of Korinthos (Corinth)] was wont to rise over the surface and flow down the sides of the mountain. And here, they say, Pegasos, a winged horse which sprang from the neck of the Gorgon Medousa (Medusa) when her head was cut off, was caught while drinking by Bellerophon. And the same horse, it is said, caused Hippu-krene (Horse Fountain) to spring up on Helikon when he struck with his hoof the rock that lay below that mountain." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 1. 9 (trans.

Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : "[In the temple of Poseidon on the Isthmos of Korinthos (Corinth) :] Among the reliefs on the base of the statue of Poseidon are the sons of Tyndareus, because these too are saviours of ships and of sea-faring men. The other offerings are images of Calm and of Sea, a horse like a whale from the breast onward, Ino and Bellerophontes, and the horse Pegasos." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 3. 5 : "The Korinthians (Corinthians) have baths in many parts of the city . . . The most famous of them is near the Poseidon. It was made by the Spartan Eurykles (Eurycles), who beautified it with various kinds of stone, especially the one quarried at Krokeai (Croceae) in Lakonia. On the left of the entrance stands a Poseidon, and after him Artemis hunting. Throughout the city are many wells, for the Korinthians have a copious supply of flowing water . . .

but the most noteworthy is the one by the side of the image of Artemis. Over it is a Bellerophontes, and the water flows through the hoof of the horse Pegasos." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 4. 1 : "Athena, they say. Was the divinity who gave most help to Bellerophontes, and she delivered to him Pegasos, having herself broken in and bridled him." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 31. 9 : "They [the people of Troizenos (Troezen) in Argolis], too, say that the earth sent up the water when the horse Pegasos struck the ground with his hoof, and that Bellerophontes came to Troizen to ask Pittheus to give him Aithra (Aethra) to wife." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 57 (trans.

Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Iobates [king of Lykia (Lycia)] was reluctant to kill the hero [Bellerophon], but sent him to kill the Chimaera, a three-formed creature said to breathe forth fire. Likewise : forepart lion, rearpart snake, middle she-goat. This he slew, riding on Pegasus, and he is said to have fallen in the Aleian plains and to have dislocated his hip." Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 18 : "[Proitos (Proetus)] knowing that he [Bellerophon] had the horse Pegasus, sent him to the father of Antia--some call her Sthenoboea--, for him to defend his daughter's chastity and send the youth against the Chimera, which at that time was laying waste with flames the country of the Lycians. Bellerophon was victor, and escaped, but after the creation of the spring, as he was attempting to fly to heaven, and had almost reached it, he became terrified looking down at the earth, and fell off and was killed.

But the horse is said to have flown up and to have been put among the constellations by Jove [Zeus]." Ovid, Fasti 3. 449 ff (trans.Boyle) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "[Pegasus] had only just protested its strange bridling [by Bellerophon], when its light hoof dug Aonia's spring [the Hippokrene (Hippocrene)]." Apuleius, The Golden Ass 8. 16 ff (trans. Walsh) (Roman novel C2nd A.D.) : "I reflected that it was panic more than anything which had induced the celebrated Pegasus to take to the air, and that the tradition that he had wings was justified because he leapt upward as high as heaven in his fear of being bitten by the fire-breathing Chimaera." Oppian, Cynegetica 1. 225 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd A.D.) : "To Horses beyond all mortal creatures cunning Nature has given a subtle mind and heart . . .

A horse [Pegasos] carried above the clouds him [Bellerophon] that slew the Khimaira (Chimera)." Nonnus, Dionysiaca 11. 142 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : "Quickwing Pegasos threw Bellerophontes and sent him headlong down from the sky, although he was of the seed of Earthshaker [Poseidon] and the horse himself shared the kindred blood of Poseidon." Nonnus, Dionysiaca 28. 167 ff : "Pegasos flying high in the air as swift in his course as the wandering wind, threw Bellerophontes." THE CONSTELLATOIN PEGASUS Pegasus, Athenian red-figure kylix C6th B.C., Museum of Fine Arts Boston Hesiod, Theogony 280 ff (trans.

Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) : "Pegasos, soaring, left the earth, the mother of sheep flocks, and came to the immortals, and there he lives in the household of Zeus, and carries the thunder and lightning for Zeus of the counsels." Pindar, Olympian Ode 13. 92 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) : "Pegasos dwells in the ancient stalls of Zeus upon Olympos." Plato, Phaedrus 246 (trans. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) : "A pair of winged horses and a charioteer. Now the winged horses and the charioteers of the gods are all of them noble and of noble descent . . . Zeus, the mighty lord, holding the reins of a winged chariot, leads the way in heaven, ordering all and taking care of all; and there follows him the array of gods and demigods, marshalled in eleven bands [the twelve Olympians]." Aratus, Phaenomena 206 ff (trans.

Mair) (Greek astronomical poem C3rd B.C.) : "The huge [constellation] Horse (Hippos) [is Pegasos] . . . the Horse himself circles in the heaven of Zeus and is there for thee to behold." Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 18 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Constellation Horse. This sign Aratus and many others have called Pegasus, offspring of Neptunus [Poseidon] and the Gorgon Medusa . . . As he [Bellerophon] was attempting to fly to heaven, and had almost reached it, he became terrified looking down at the earth, and fell off and was killed. But the horse [Pegasos] is said to have flown up and to have been put among the constellations by Jove [Zeus]." Ovid, Fasti 3. 449 ff (trans.Boyle) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "Now when stars spangle the deep blue heavens, look up: you'll see the neck of the Gorgonian horse [the constellation Pegasos].

Men believe it sprang with its blood-spattered mane from the butchered Medusa's pregnant neck. As it glided above the clouds and beneath the stars, the sky was its earth and wings were its feet. It had only just protested its strange bridling [by Bellerophon], when its light hoof dug Aonia's spring [the Hippokrene (Hippocrene)]. Now it enjoys the sky, which it wings sought before, and gleams resplendent with five stars and ten." Nonnus, Dionysiaca 37. 265 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : "Pegasos flying on high quickly cut the air on his long wings." THE PEGASI HORSES Pegasoi or winged horses (hippoi pteretoi) were often depicted in ancient art drawing the chariots of the gods, especially those of the sun-god Helios and moon-goddes Selene. In myth the hero Pelops was given a chariot drawn by winged horses by the god Poseidon.

A species of winged horse is also described in Greek legend--animals believed to be indigenous to the mysterious land of Aithiopia (Ethiopia)--see Pegasoi Aithiopikoi . Plato, Critias (trans. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) : "[In the temple of Poseidon on the mythical island of Atlantis :] Here was the [statue of the] god himself standing in a chariot--the charioteer of six winged horses [Pegasoi]." Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 17. 7 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : "[Amongst the scenes depicted on the chest of Kypselos (Cypselus) dedicated at Olympia :] Oinomaos (Oenomaus) is chasing Pelops, who is holding Hippodameia. Each of them has two horses, but those of Pelops have wings." Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 19. 8 : "[Amongst the scenes depicted on the chest of Kypselos dedicated at Olympia :] Next come two-horse chariots with women standing in them.

The horses have golden wings, and a man is giving armour to one of the women. I conjecture that this scene refers to the death of Patroklos (Patroclus); the women in the chariots, I take it, are Nereides, and Thetis is receiving the armour from Hephaistos (Hephaestus)." ANCIENT GREEK & ROMAN ART Bellerophon: Adventures of a Bad Boy Hero Ancient/Classical History Expert By N.S. Gill Bellerophon was one of the major heroes of Greek mythology because he was the son of a mortal father. What's in a demigod? Let's take a look at Bellerophon'. The Birth of a Hero Remember Sisyphus , the guy punished for being a trickster by having to roll a rock up a hill - then doing it over and over, for eternity? Well, before he got into all that trouble, he was the king of Corinth , an important city in ancient Greece. He married Merope, one of the Pleiades - daughters of the Titan Atlas who were also stars in the sky. Sisphyus and Merope had one son, Glaucus.

When it came time to get married, "Glaucus ... had by Eurymede a son Bellerophon," according to Pseudo-Apollodorus's Library. Homer echoes this in the Iliad , saying, "Sisyphus, son of Aeolus .... begat a son Glaucus; and Glaucus begat peerless Bellerophon." But what made Bellerophon so "peerless"? For one, Bellerophon was one of many Greek heroes (think Theseus , Heracles , and more) who had both human and divine fathers. continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States Poseidon had relations with his mother, so Bellerophon was counted as both a man and a child of a god. So he's called both Sisyphus and Poseidon's kid. Hyginus numbers Bellerophon among Poseidon's sons in his Fabulae, and Hesiod elaborate s even further on it.

Hesiod calls Eurymede Eurynome, "to whom Pallas Athene taught all her art, both wit and wisdom too; for she was as wise as the gods." But " she lay in the arms of Poseidon and bare in the house of Glaucus blameless Bellerophon ..." Not bad for a queen - a semi-divine child as her kid! Pegasus and Pretty Women As Poseidon 's son, Bellerophon was entitled to gifts from his immortal dad. Present number one? A winged horse as a pal. Hesiod writes, "And when he began to roam, his father gave him Pegasus who would bear him most swiftly on his wings, and flew unwearying everywhere over the earth, for like the gales he would course along." Athena may actually have had a role in this. Pindar claims that Athena helped Bellerophon harness Pegasus by giving him "a bridle with golden cheek-pieces." After sacrificing a bull to Athena, Bellerophon was able to bridle the untameable horse. He "stretched the gentle charmed bridle around its jaws and caught the winged horse.

Mounted on its back and armored in bronze, at once he began to play with weapons." First up on the list? Hanging out with a king named Proteus, whose wife, Antaea, fell in love with their guest. Why was that so bad? "For Antaea, wife of Proetus, lusted after him, and would have had him lie with her in secret; but Bellerophon was an honorable man and would not, so she told lies about him to Proetus," says Homer. Of course, Proteus believed his wife, who claimed that Bellerophon tried to rape her. Interestingly, Diodorus Siculus says that Bellerophon went to visit Proteus because he was "in exile because of a murder he had unwittingly committed." Proteus would have killed Bellerophon, but the Greeks had a strict policy of taking care of their guests . So, in order to get Bellerophon - but not do the deed himself - Proteus sent Bellerophon and his flying horse off to his father-in-law, King Iobates of Lycia (in Asia Minor). Along with Bellerophon, he sent a closed letter to Iobates, telling him of what B.

supposedly did to Iobates's daughter. Needless to say, Iobates wasn't so fond of his new guest and wanted to kill Bellerophon! How to Get Away with Murder So he wouldn't violate the guest bond, Iobates tried to get a monster to kill Bellerophon. He "first commanded Bellerophon to kill that savage monster, the Chimaera ." This was one terrifying beast, who "had the head of a lion and the tail of a serpent, while her body was that of a goat, and she breathed forth flames of fire." Presumably, not even Bellerophon could defeat this monster, so she'd do the killing for Iobates and Proteus. Not so fast. Bellerophon was able to use his heroics to defeat the Chimaera, "for he was guided by signs from heaven." He did it from high up, says Pseudo-Apollodorus. " So Bellerophon mounted his winged steed Pegasus, offspring of Medusa and Poseidon, and soaring on high shot down the Chimera from the height." Next up on his battle list? The Solymi, a tribe in Lycia, recounts Herodotus .

Then, Bellerophon took on the Amazons , fierce warrior women of the ancient world, on the command of Iobates. He defeated them, but still the Lycian king plotted against him, for he chose "the bravest warriors in all Lycia , and placed them in ambuscade, but not a man ever came back, for Bellerophon killed every one of them," says Homer. Finally, Iobates realized he had a good guy on his hands. As a result, he honored Bellerophon and "kept him in Lycia , gave him his daughter in marriage, and made him of equal honor in the kingdom with himself; and the Lycians gave him a piece of land, the best in all the country, fair with vineyards and tilled fields, to have and to hold." Ruling Lycia with his father-in-law, Bellerophon even had three kids. You'd think he had it all ... but this wasn't enough for an egotistical hero. Downfall from On High Not content with being a king and a god's son, Bellerophon decided to try to become a god himself. He mounted Pegasus and attempted to fly him to Mount Olympus .

Writes Pindar in his Isthmean Ode, "Winged Pegasus threw his master Bellerophon, who wanted to go to the dwelling-places of heaven and the company of Zeus." Tossed down to earth, Bellerophon had lost his heroic status and lived the rest of his life in indignity. Homer writes that he "came to be hated by all the gods, he wandered all desolate and dismayed upon the Alean plain, gnawing at his own heart, and shunning the path of man." Not a nice way to end a heroic life! As for his kids, two out of three died due to the gods' anger. " Ares , insatiate of battle, killed his son Isandros while he was fighting the Solymi; his daughter was killed by Artemis of the golden reins, for she was angered with her," writes Homer. But his other son, Hippolochus, lived to father a son named Glaucus, who fought at Troy and narrated his own lineage in the Iliad.

Hippolochus encouraged Glaucus to live up to his famous ancestry, noting "he urged me again and again to fight ever among the foremost and out-vie my peers, so as not to shame the blood of my fathers who were the noblest in Ephyra and in all Lycia." 24 Awesome greek mythology creatures with pictures | 10Steps.SG Tweet 24 Awesome greek mythology creatures with pictures I have always been fascinated by Greek mythical creatures. The only downside is that there was a lack of pictures to depict how they really look. Thankfully, the design community has stepped in to re-imagine how these fantasy creatures look like. Most of the pictures are really awesome so I want to showcase my favorite Greek mythology creatures with pictures. Centaurs picture Source: mi9.com Centaurs are a well known race of mythology creatures who had the upper body of a man and the lower body of a horse. They were featured in the story of Theseus during their battle with Lapiths. In this story, the centaurs were invited to the wedding of Hippodamia, who was part of the Lapiths clan.

In their drunken state, the centaurs took a liking to Hippodamia and attempted to steal her from the wedding. The Lapiths fought back, and with the help of Theseus, manged to drive the centaurs from the wedding. Cerberus picture Source: wall.alphacoders.com Cerberus is the famous three headed hell dog that guarded the entrance of the underworld. Appearing in both Greek and Roman mythology, Cerberus has also been depicted numerous times in various game titles. According to the Greek legend, Cerberus was was given birth by Echidna, a hybrid half-woman and half-serpent, and Typhon, which we will will cover later in the article. Cerberus was featured in the stories of Hercules as the last labor in which the hero must captured the monster alive with no tools. There are currently some disagreement over the representation of the three heads. Some said that they represent past, present and future while others have argued that they represent birth, youth and old age. Charybdis picture Source: cghub.com Charybdis was interpreted as either a sea monster or as a large whirlpool in the Greek mythology.

In the former, she was portrayed as the daughter of the sea god Poseidon and goddess of Earth, Gaia. In this interpretation, she had a mouth for a face and had to swollen huge amounts of water each day. When Charybdis belch the water back, it lead to the formation of large whirlpools. Charybdis was featured in the story of Odysseus, who had to cross a narrow channel in the Strait of Messina. On one side of the channel lies Charybdis while the other side lays a hydra monster by the name of Scylla. To cross the channel successfully, Odysseus had to balance the ship’s navigation well. This give arise to the modern saying of “‘between Scylla and Charybdis'”, which means that choosing between 2 dangers. Chimera picture Source: abstract.desktopnexus.com Chimera is a Greek mythology creature that comprise a lion, a goat and a snake. Similar to Cerberus, Chimera parents were Typhon and Echidna. In the literature, Chimera is often depicted as a female creature, that is capable of breathing fire.

Chimera was eventually killed by the Greek hero Bellerophon, with the help of another Greek mythology creature. the Pegasus. Due to Pegasus’s ability to fly, it kept Bellerophon away from the fire breath of the Chimera. The killing blow is said to be a spear that was thrown by Bellerophon. The spear contained a lump of lead that was melted by Chimera’s fire breath and killed the creature. Cyclops picture Source: God of War The name taken by the leader of the famous X Men comics, Cyclops is a Greek mythology monster that is well known for their one eye. In most Greek stories, cyclops were often depicted as giants. According to the Greek story, cyclops were the weapon makers for Zeus to help him overthrow the rule of Cronus. In fact, they were also the makers of many God’s weapons including Poseidon’s trident, Artemis’s bow and arrow of moonlight and Hades’s helmet of darkness. Empusa picture Souce: yahoo-trendz.blogspot.sg Empusa is a less well known Greek mythology creature. She was first introduced as a demi goddess who was birthed by the goddess Hecate and the spirit Mormo.

Her physical characteristic is her beautiful flaming hair and her bronze foot. Empusa feeds on mens’ blood and flesh by seducing them in their sleep. However, it is clear that Empusa is definitely not a vampire. In later stories, Empusa was portrayed as a species of Hecate whose duties was to guard important roads and devour any travellers who might stumbled onto them. Erinyes picture Source: paizo.com The Erinyes were known to be entities of vengeance. They were born out of the blood of Uranus when Cronus castrated him. It is unknown how many Erinyes were there although their physical attributes were unmistakeable. They had serpents around their waist and had blood dripping from their eyes. In the Greek mythology, they appeared to Orestes and try to hunt him when he killed his sisters on the orders of Apollo, the god of sun. Eventually, Orestes managed to escape to Athena template where he was given a trial, attended by both the Erinyes and Apollo. Orestes was later found to be not guilty and was released from pursuit by the Erinyes.

Gorgon picture Source: mediastudio-graz.com Unknown to many, Medusa is not the only Greek mythology monster with snakes as hair. The general name of such a monster was known as the Gorgons. Throughout history, there have been many interpretations and stories of how the Gorgons came about and what were their roles. The most famous was of course the version with the three sisters, otherwise known as Stheno (the mighty), Euryale (the far-springer), and Medusa (the queen). In this version of the story, Medusa was the only Gorgon who was not immortal. As such, King Polydectes sent Perseus to deal with Medusa in the hope that he would be killed. Fortunately, Perseus was armed with the shield of Athena, the goddess of war, and used it as a mirror to avoid glazing into the eyes of Medusa. Perseus eventually cut off Medusa’s head and presented it to Athena, who then used it to turn Atlas into a stone mountain that supports the heaven and earth. Graeae picture Source: smolin.deviantart.com Graeae are the three sisters who shared one eye and one mouth.

They were birth by Phorcys and Ceto and were in fact sisters to the Gordons (See above). The names of the three Graeae sisters are Deino, Enyo and Pemphredo. Although mot stories portrayed the Graeae sisters as old hags, some poets actually described them as beautiful creatures. The Graeae sisters appeared in many pop culture including the second book of Percy, as well as in the 2010 movie, Clash of the Titans. In the Greek legend, it was the Graeae sisters who directed Perseus on how to kill the Medusa, although the hero did steal the eye from them before they are willing to do so. Griffin picture Source: mi9.com Made famous by the Harry Potter series of book, Griffin is the Greek mythology creature that give arise to Harry’s house called Gryffindor. The creature itself is an amalgamation of two creatures, the body of a lion, and the wings and head of an eagle. Given that both the lion and the eagle are kings of animals and birds respectively, it is said that the Griffin was the king of all creatures.

Interestingly, there is actually no Greek stories that featured Griffin but it is known to be featured in ancient Greek drawings and literature. Harpy picture Source: yahoo-trendz.blogspot.sg Harpies are the daughters of Thaumas and Electra. They were featured in the story about Phineas, who was punished by Zeus for revealing too much of god’s secrets. The punishment involved putting Phineas in an island that always had good food but which he cannot touch. This is because the harpies would come down and steal all the good food before Phineas can have a chance to eat. This continued until the arrival of Jason and the Argonauts. Among them, the Boreads, who can fly, helped to drive the harpies away. Hippalectryon picture Source: louboumian.deviantart.com Hippalectryon is a relatively unknown Greek mythology creature because it was not featured in any of the legends or folktales. However, hippalectryon can be found in sculptures and ceramics thus proving that it indeed was part of the Greek mythology. Part roaster part horse, it is one of the strangest creature that I have come across.

Hippocamps picture Source: Seahorses were referred to as the hippocamps in Greek mythology. They were not featured strongly in any legends but they were always depicted as Poseidon’s ride. Hydra picture Source: wizards.com This is the famous 9 headed serpant that made appearances in movies such as Percy and the Lighting Thief. Hydra was not a creature of nature as it was raise to Earth by Hera, one of Zeus’s wife. Its sole purpose was to kill Hercules as part of his 12 labors. In the second labor, Hercules was tasked to kill Hydra. However, the beast had the ability to regrow any of the heads that Hercules had cut off. Finally, Hercules recruited the help of his cousin, Iolaus, who came up with the idea of burning the stump after the head was cut off. This idea worked and Hercules managed to cut off all the Hydra’s heads. Lamia picture Source: arpiwane.deviantart.com Lamia was once the beautiful queue of Libya but was later transformed into a man eating demon with a serpent tail. The reason for this transformation has been the subject of much interpretation. One story told how this was caused by Hera forcing Lamia to eat her own children.

Others said that Hera directly gave Lamia the monster appearance. Whatever the origin, Lamia has been used extensively in many folktales and stories. Manticore picture Source: kikicianjur.deviantart.com The manticore is a creature that reassebles the Sphinx as it also possessed the body of a lion and the head of a human. The manticore started as a Persian mythology creature but was later reflected in the Greek mythology. Due to the many versions of how the creature looks, the manticore might be depicted as having wings and/or having a scorpion tail. Minotaur picture Source: wallpaperuser.com Minotaur is the well known creature that is half bull and half man. What is less known is its origin. The story started with the King of Crete, Minos, praying to Poseidon for support. As sign of this support, Poseidon would send Minos a white bull which he had to killed as a sacrifice. However, Minos loved the white bull so much that he attempted to swap the white bull for one of his own.

Furious at this action, Poseidon ordered the goddess of love to casted a spell on Mino’s wife, Pasiphaë, to fall in love with the Cretan Bull. They mated and their offspring was Minotaur. However, this half man, half beast devoured man for food. Minos thus had no choice but to order Daedalus to build a large maze which could contained Minotaur. In the Greek legend, Minotaur was slayed by the hero Theseus. The latter volunteered himself as the sacrifice on behalf of the people of Athen. On arriving on Crete, the daughter of Minos fell in love with Theseus and helped him to navigate the maze to find Minotaur. However, upon slaying the beast, Theseus eventually choose the other daughter of Minos, Phaedra, as his wife. Ophiotaurus picture Source: genzoman.deviantart.com Ophiotaurus was a Greek mythology creature that isn’t very well known. In fact, I only got to know about it because this creature was mentioned in the third book of Percy and the Olympians. Ophiotaurus had the head of a bull and the body of a sea serpant.

It was a vastly powerful creature that was birthed from the same Chaos that give arise to Gaia, Mother of Earth. It is believed Ophiotaurus’s entrails can grant the welder the power to defeat gods. Pegasus picture Source: Debbiesthemes.com Pegasus is the famous winged horse of the Greek mythology. In most literature, Pegasus was given birth by the blood of Medusa, one of the three Gordon sisters mentioned above. Bellerophon captured Pegasus who agreed to help the hero is his battle against the Chimera. Bellerophon, however, eventually died as he fell off the back of Pegasus when they were trying to reach Mount Olympus. Satyr picture Source: onlyhdwallpapers.com Satyr are half goat, half men characters that have seen many cultural appearances including being the side kick of Percy in the movie. Satyr are mostly known as creatures of pleasure and passion, although some modern day artist have created darker sides of the Satyr characters. Despite their popularity, Satyr were not featured prominently in any Greek mythology.

Sirens picture Source: yahoo-trendz.blogspot.sg Sirens are beautiful creatures that used their voices to lure sailors to their hideout at the cliffs where they would crash to their deaths. Most of the literature depicted Sirens as having a bird’s body but the artist rendition used a fish body instead. It is said that if anybody heard the sirens’ voice and survive, they would kill themselves. Sirens was featured in the story of Odysseus. To hear the sirens’ voices without dying, Odysseus ordered his men to stuff their ears with bees’ wax while he himself was tied to the ship. When the ship was within the range of the Sirens’ voices, Odysseus begged his men to go to the voice but they ignored him. Once the ship was outside the influence of the voices, Odysseus woke up from his obsession and sailed away unharmed. The Sirens then flung themselves to the water and perished. Sphinx picture Source: yahoo-trendz.blogspot.sg Sphinx has the head of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a bird and might be the sister to Chimera and Cerberus.

In the Greek mythology, there was one sphinx who guarded the road to the city of Thebe. To all travelers who used this road, the Sphinx would ask the following riddle “Which creature walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?” Anyone who can’t answer this riddle correctly was devoured. The riddle was eventually solved by Oedipus who gave the correct answer: “man”. It was said that the Sphinx either jumped off a cliff or devoured herself when the riddle was solved. Stymphalian Birds picture Source: dwarvenarchitect.deviantart.com The Stymphalian Birds were the sixth labor of Hercules, who was tasked to kill all the birds in the swamp. These birds were characterized by their beaks of steel and appetite for human flesh. In this labor, Hercules was helped by Hephaestus, the god of technology, who gave a rattle to the hero. With it in hand, Hercule frightened the birds into the air from where he quickly fired arrows to kill them off. Typhon picture Source: dragon-myths.blogspot.sg Typhon is one of the most powerful Greek mythology creature.

Together with Echidna, it gave birth to many of the monsters that were featured above including Chimera, Cerberus, Sphinx etc. Typhon is said to be really huge. Its upper body is human like and is said to be taller than a mountain. His bottom half comprised of large vipers that can reach far out in any directions. In the battle between Gaia and Zeus, Typhon was sent by Gaia as the last resort to destroy the Gods. In the first battle with Zeus, Typhon actually won by capturing Zeus’ sinews. Fortunately, the god of speed recovered the sinews. In the second battle, Zeus managed to defeat Typhon and sealed him under Mount Etna. Aaron is a writer for 10Steps.SG Bellerophon Bellerophon Proetus with a scepter and Bellerophon with Pegasus Bellerophon ( Βελλεροφόντης, Βελλεροφόντης ) ("bearing darts") was a hero from Greek mythology whose greatest feat was to kill the Chimera , a monster usually depicted as with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent-tail.

He is also said to be the grandson of Sisyphus , a notable character in mythology who was sent to Tartarus for doing many evil things in life. He was the son of King Glaucus of Corinth . Bellerophon's journey begins when he is acused of trying to seduce the wife of King Proteus . He is sent into to exile to the land of King Iobates of Lycia. Proteus wanted Iobates to kill Bellerophon, but Iobates feared the wrath of the gods if he murdered a guest; so he sent Bellerophon on a mission that Iobates deemed impossible: to kill the fire-breathing monster the Chimera . An alternate version of the beginning of the quest is that Bellerophon wandered into Proteus, who grew intensely jealous of him. Proteus was the son-in-law of Iobates, King of Lycia, and sent Bellerophon to him with a sealed message that asked to kill Bellerophon, this is the origin of the expression a "bellerophonic letter".

Lycia at the time was in the middle of a horrific plague and Iobates didn't want to strain the population with a war, which would surely be the result if he murdered Bellerophon. Instead, he sent him on an impossible quest: to kill the Chimera. Bellerophon, Louvre G535 The goddess Athena , realizing Bellerophon would surely die if he undertook this task alone, sent him aid in the form of the winged horse, Pegasus . Alternatively, Bellerophon sought out the wisest man in Lycia, Polyidus, who told him about the Pegasus. To obtain the services of the winged horse, Polyidus told Bellerophon to sleep in the temple of Athena. While Bellerophon slept, he dreamed of Athena setting a golden bridle down beside him; it was there when he awoke. Bellerophon had to sneak up on Pegasus while it drank from a well (Polyidus told him which well -- Pirene on the Acrocotinth). Bellerophon mounted his steed and flew off to where the Chimera was said to dwell.

When he arrived, the Chimera was truly ferocious, and he could not harm the monster even while riding on Pegasus. He felt the heat of the breath the Chimera expelled, and was struck with an idea. He got a large block of lead and mounted it on his spear. He then flew head-on towards the Chimera, holding out the spear as far as he could. Before he broke off his attack, he managed to lodge the block of lead inside the Chimera's throat. The beast's fire-breath melted the lead, and blocked its air passage. The Chimera suffocated, and Bellerophon returned to King Iobates victoriously. Iobates was unable to believe that this valiant hero deserved death, and so he allowed Bellerophon to marry his daughter. Alternatively, Iobates' daughter, Antea, loved Bellerophon. He scorned her and she committed suicide. Iobates' other daughter, Philonoe, had an affair with Bellerophon. However, as Bellerophon's fame grew, so did his ego. Bellerophon felt that, with Pegasus, he could fly to Mount Olympus , the realm of the gods.

However, the flight was truly exhausting for Pegasus and the gods sent a fly to sting the horse. Pegasus stumbled and Bellerophon fell to his death, punished for the pride of hubris. (In some versions, Athena saves him but Pegasus flies away and Bellerophon is crippled by the fall.) There is a city in a part of Argos, land where horses breed, a place called Ephyra. 0 There Sisyphus lived, craftiest man ever born, Sisyphus, Aeolus' son. He had a son, Glaucus, father of handsome Bellerophon. The gods made Bellerophon so beautiful and gave him the best qualities of men. But Proetus, in his heart, plotted against him, driving him from Argos, being much stronger, for Zeus had given royal power to Proetus. Now, Proetus' wife, lady Antea, desperate to have sex with Bellerophon, wanted him to lie with her in secret. But fiery Bellerophon refused, for he possessed an honourable heart.

So Antea made up lies, telling Proetus, the king, 'You'll be murdered, Proetus, unless you assassinate Bellerophon, who wants to have sex with me against my will.' Proetus was overcome with anger at what he'd heard, but he was reluctant to kill Bellerophon—in his heart he shrank from doing such an evil act. He sent Bellerophon to Lycia, with a lethal message, coded symbols inscribed on a folded tablet. These told many lies about Bellerophon. Proetus told him to give the message to his father-in-law, so he'd be killed. Bellerophon went off to Lycia, under safe conduct from the gods. When in Lycia he reached the river Xanthus, he was honoured fully by the Lycian king, with nine days of welcome entertainment, nine sacrificial oxen. The tenth day, when rose-fingered Dawn appeared, the Lycian king questioned Bellerophon, asking to see the message he had brought from Proetus, his father-in-law.

Once he'd received the evil message from his son-in-law, he told Bellerophon, first of all, to kill the Chimera, an invincible monster, inhuman, but divine in origin. Its front part was a lion, its rear end a snake, and in between a goat. She breathed deadly rage, in searing fire. But Bellerophon killed the Chimera, putting his trust in omens from the gods. Next, he battled the Solymi, the worst fight, they say, he ever had with mortal beings. Then, third, he massacred the Amazons, women who rival men. The king planned one more devious evil trick against him, as he was returning from the Amazons, setting Lycia's best men in ambush. But none of them came back again— worthy Bellerophon killed them all. The king then knew he must be born divine. So he kept him with him there in Lycia, gave him his daughter's hand in marriage, and half the honours in the entire kingdom. The Lycians gave him an estate far better than the rest, rich in vineyards and wheat-growing land, for him to keep.

--------------- Bellerophon was also said to be the father of Laodamia by an unknown woman. The Baroque opera Il Bellerofonte of the Czech composer Josef Myslivecek also derives its name from Bellerophon. In the sci-fi story Forbidden Planet (both the novel by W.J. Stuart and the 1956 film starring Walter Pidgeon and Leslie Nielsen) the space cruiser C-57-D is sent to planet Altair IV to search for survivors of the ill-fated Bellerophon Expedition. Bellerophon and Pegasos killing the Chimaera Laconian cup, 570 - 565 BC. Piercing Bellerophon Mounted on a Pegasus

Question: In Greek mythology who fell from Pegasus as he attempted to fly to Mount Olympus, the realm of the gods?
Answer: BELLEROPHON