|
Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places |
Pegasus
| Description |
Pegasus is a flying horse from Greek and Roman mythology.
He is generally pictured as white, sometimes with golden wings.
|
| Features | There are
2 versions of his birth: one is that Pegasus was the child of Poseidon (in
an appearance as a horse) and Medusa. The other is that he was
produced by the blood of Medusa sinking into the earth after she was killed
by Perseus. Pegasus became the horse of Bellerophon, and they had many
adventures together, including the slaying of the
Chimera. But Bellerophon became too proud and arrogant; he tried
to fly up to heaven on Pegasus. Because of this, Jupiter sent a gadfly
that stung Pegasus and caused him to buck, throwing Bellerophon off forever.
Bellerophon became blind and lame, and died alone and miserable. The image of Pegasus is popular among artists.
|
| Described By: | Pliny
describes Pegasi as giant horse-headed birds that live in the
eastern Mediterranean.
|
| Links |
Bulfinch's Pegasus myth
retold
|
