A fabulous horse creature with wings. In Greek mythology, Pegasus was born from the neck of the Gorgon Medusa when she was slain by Perseus.

Medusa was impregnated with Pegasus by having intercourse with Poseidon when he was in the shape of a horse.

Pegasus was captured or given to Bellerophon, who rode him in the fight against the Chimera, the Solymi, and the Amazons. Then Bellerophon tried to ride him to Heaven but was thrown back to Earth - Pegasus continued heavenward.

In the heavens, he was the immortal horse of Zeus, carrying thunderbolts and lightening across the sky. Later he was the horse of Aurora, the morning.

He was also the horse of the Muses, and wherever he struck his hoof to the earth an inspiring well would spring up.

Sometimes known as a curse-horse.

Today, the word pegasus can refer to any winged horse.

References

Smith, William. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. Boston: Little, Brown, 1859.

Encyclopedia Britannica. Cambridge, England: University Press, 1911.

See Also: Creatures by Type: Horses