Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, is a symbol of flight, strength, and inspiration. Its origins may be related to lightning and springing forth. Pegasus is associated with heroes Perseus and Bellerophon and is sometimes a lightning bearer for Zeus. Despite its origins in Egyptian mythology, pegasi are seen as uniquely Greek. Pegasus is not immortal but was placed among the stars by Zeus. The Pegasus myth has inspired representations in Western culture, including Exxon Mobil’s symbol and JK Rowling’s creation of thestrals.
Pegasus is the winged horse of Greek mythology, which practically has more origin myths than feathers in its wings, and continues to be an indelible symbol of flight, strength and inspiration. The Greek words associated with Pegasus, may be related to lightning, and the idea of springing forth. Since he is often associated with the Muses, and is sometimes a lightning bearer for Zeus, both ideas combine to symbolically represent flashes of inspiration, especially in the arts.
The concept of the winged horse may have its origins in Egyptian mythology, and thus predate myths of Greek origin, but today pegasi (pl.) are seen as uniquely Greek. Two of the most common creation myths about Pegasus are that he was created from the blood of Medusa after her beheading by the hero Perseus, or that he is the son of Medusa and Poseidon and brother of Chrysaor, a giant. The myth that Pegasus was created by Zeus and given as a companion to Hercules, is largely a Disney invention for their Hercules cartoon.
Instead, Pegasus is often connected to two heroes, Perseus and Bellerophon. Some myths suggest that Athena gave the horse to Bellerophon after she found and tamed it. Other legends name Bellerophon as the discoverer of Pegasus and his tamer. Bellerophon and Perseus in different accounts are said to have had the help of Pegasus in defeating the Amazons and the Chimera. In some myths, Athena gives the horse to Perseus; this is the more modern account given in Ray Harryhausen’s film Clash of the Titans, although it must be understood that the filmmakers took considerable liberties with Greek mythology.
In later years, after aiding the heroes, Pegasus is said to have lived on Mount Olympus, either in the service of Zeus or alternatively served as a mount for Eos, the goddess of dawn. He got married, and he and his wife, Euippe, had children and started racing the flying horses. Despite the origin of pegasus, they are not immortal creatures, but Zeus tried to honor the service of Pegasus by placing him among the stars. So we have the beautiful constellation Pegasus, forming a square, with lines running from the top left to the bottom right to slightly resemble a grazing horse. It takes some imagination to visualize the constellation as connected to the mythical beast.
Representations of winged horses proliferate in Western culture. The Greeks used them on coins and Exxon Mobil uses a winged horse as a symbol. An interesting take on the Pegasus myth is JK Rowling’s creation of thestrals, invisible winged horses that are carnivorous, but actually quite well behaved. They can only be seen by people who have seen death, and in doing so Rowling reimagines the Pegasus myth and references the myth’s more gruesome origin stories. Thestrals, however, lack the beauty and majesty of pegasi, although they are quite useful when tamed.
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