Pegasus
Pegasus was a winged horse in Greek Mythology. The horse was born from the trickling blood of the Gorgon Medusa. Pegasus flew up to join the Gods and was caught by the Goddess Athena. Athena tamed the horse with a golden bridle. At this time it's said that Athena gave the golden bridle to Bellrophon before he started out to fight the Chimaera. Bellophron also tamed Pegasus with it but he soon became too proud. Pegasus threw him off and flew into the sky where Zeus made him into a constellation.
Pegasus is the name of a mythological Greek horse. It sprang from the blood of the slain Medusa, a snake-haired woman so ugly that a man would turn instantly to stone if he looked at her. The goddess Athena caught and tamed the horse with the silver wings and later presented him to the Muses who presided over the arts.
Besides being a symbol of the arts, especially writing, Pegasus was known to participate in many ancient battles, giving his rider a tremendous advantage. Eventually, Pegasus became the favorite of Zeus, the King of the gods, and carried the thunder and lightning bolts to him in battle.
For those of you that are not up on your classical mythology, here's a little more background on Pegasus, the winged horse. Well, it's more like the Reader's Digest version, but the plot is worthy of Melrose Place.
Pegasus sprang forth from the blood of the neck of Medusa where it hit the ground. Chrysaor also was created at the same time - he was created by the union of Poseidon and Medusa, but was not yet born when Medusa's head was removed. Unlike Pegasus, Chrysaor is portrayed as a monster of sorts.
Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, the other two were Stheno and Euryale (all three were sisters). Medusa was slain by Perseus, this task had been set for him by Polydectes (a local king where Perseus lived with his mother Danae). Polydectes wanted to marry Danae, but she had no dowry, so Perseus asked what he could provide instead. Polydectes did not like Perseus and hoped that the task of slaying Medusa would get rid of Perseus (because anyone who viewed Medusa's face turned to stone, hence the assumption by Polydectes that there was no way Perseus would be successful).
The goddess Athena assisted Perseus in this task, Athena was looking for revenge against Poseidon for sleeping with Medusa in one of her temples. Athena gave Perseus a special bronze shield to look at Medusa's reflection with, for anyone who looked at Medusa's head would be turned to stone. Athena also told Perseus where to go for more help; eventually he ended up with winged shoes, a cap that made him invisible, a bag to carry the head in, and a special sword (sounds more like a game of Dungeons and Dragons).
Once Perseus cut off Medusa's head, Pegasus was created and was set free. Eventually, Pegasus was tamed by Bellerophon. He used a golden bridle given to him by Athena to tame the horse. Their story comes to an end when Bellerophon tries to ride Pegasus "up to the heavens," and Zeus gets upset and sends a bolt of lightning that causes Bellerophon to be thrown to the ground. Though he survives the fall, he later dies in anonymity. The outcome for Pegasus is not clear.
Pegasus is the name of a mythological Greek horse. It sprang from the blood of the slain Medusa, a snake-haired woman so ugly that a man would turn instantly to stone if he looked at her. The goddess Athena caught and tamed the horse with the silver wings and later presented him to the Muses who presided over the arts.
Besides being a symbol of the arts, especially writing, Pegasus was known to participate in many ancient battles, giving his rider a tremendous advantage. Eventually, Pegasus became the favorite of Zeus, the King of the gods, and carried the thunder and lightning bolts to him in battle.
For those of you that are not up on your classical mythology, here's a little more background on Pegasus, the winged horse. Well, it's more like the Reader's Digest version, but the plot is worthy of Melrose Place.
Pegasus sprang forth from the blood of the neck of Medusa where it hit the ground. Chrysaor also was created at the same time - he was created by the union of Poseidon and Medusa, but was not yet born when Medusa's head was removed. Unlike Pegasus, Chrysaor is portrayed as a monster of sorts.
Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, the other two were Stheno and Euryale (all three were sisters). Medusa was slain by Perseus, this task had been set for him by Polydectes (a local king where Perseus lived with his mother Danae). Polydectes wanted to marry Danae, but she had no dowry, so Perseus asked what he could provide instead. Polydectes did not like Perseus and hoped that the task of slaying Medusa would get rid of Perseus (because anyone who viewed Medusa's face turned to stone, hence the assumption by Polydectes that there was no way Perseus would be successful).
The goddess Athena assisted Perseus in this task, Athena was looking for revenge against Poseidon for sleeping with Medusa in one of her temples. Athena gave Perseus a special bronze shield to look at Medusa's reflection with, for anyone who looked at Medusa's head would be turned to stone. Athena also told Perseus where to go for more help; eventually he ended up with winged shoes, a cap that made him invisible, a bag to carry the head in, and a special sword (sounds more like a game of Dungeons and Dragons).
Once Perseus cut off Medusa's head, Pegasus was created and was set free. Eventually, Pegasus was tamed by Bellerophon. He used a golden bridle given to him by Athena to tame the horse. Their story comes to an end when Bellerophon tries to ride Pegasus "up to the heavens," and Zeus gets upset and sends a bolt of lightning that causes Bellerophon to be thrown to the ground. Though he survives the fall, he later dies in anonymity. The outcome for Pegasus is not clear.
posted by kevin at 6:24 AM
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