Pegasus - The Flying Horse Named Pegasus

Definition: Pegasus is the famous flying, winged horse of Greek mythology. Born from the bleeding body of his mother Medusa when Perseus chopped off her head, Pegasus sprang forth with his twin brother, a warrior named Chrysaor, on his back. Pegasus and Chrysaor's father was the sea and horse god Poseidon.

Pegasus is associated with the Muses. With a kick of his hoof, Pegasus created a spring on Mt. Helicon that is called Hippocrene and offers inspiration.

Pegasus is also sometimes considered one of the constellations.

The Greek hero Bellerophon tamed and rode Pegasus using Athena's magical golden bridle. After Pegasus foolishly tried to use Pegasus to reach Mt. Olympus, the immortal rider-free horse Pegasus went to Mount Olympus bringing thunder and lightning to Zeus.

Sources on Pegasus: Apollodorus.2.3.2; Aratus of Soli, Phaenomena.218; Hyginus, Poetica Astronomica.2.18; Nonnus, Dionysiaca.25.40, 31.20; Ovid Fasti.3.450; Pindar, Olympian Odes.13.64.

More sources: "The Son of Neptune," by Arthur Stanley Pease. Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, Vol. 54, (1943), p. 82.

Common Misspellings: Pegasis

Examples: Mobil Oil used the winged horse Pegasus as its logo.