Pegasus-Winged Horse of Greek Mythology

 Pegasus (or Pegasos) is a winged horse from Greek mythology, born from the severed neck of the gorgon Medusa, whose father was Poseidon, who was killed by Perseus. At the same time and in the same way, Chryasor was born. Poseidon gave Pegasus to his son Bellerophon and put Pegasus to good use in his famous battle with the Chimaera.

 The legend of Bellerophon begins with the hero visiting Tiryns and enjoying the hospitality of Proitos, the king of the city. But the trouble began when the king's wife, Stheneboia, fell in love with the hero and made inappropriate advances.

 Bellerophon, a good guest, politely refused these advances, but predictably, Stheneboia saw the red and went before the king, accusing the visitor of trying to seduce him.

 As punishment, Bellerophon was sent by Proitos to serve his father-in-law, King Iobates of Lycia. Upon arrival, Bellerophon was given a series of dangerous and incredibly difficult tasks, chief among them was to destroy the fearsome and rather strange Chimaera.

 This fire-breathing creature was a terrifying mix of a lion's body with a snake for its tail, and a goat's head sprouting from its back. Bellerophon was lucky to have Pegasus at his disposal to assist him in this task. In some accounts he found the horse in the Pyrenean Fountain near Corinth, and Hesiod suggests that this fact explains the name Pegasus, which derives from 'water' - pēgē. Having tamed the horse with Athena's help, Bellerophon mounted (and flew) the Pegasus and was able to slay the monstrous Chimaera with his spear.

 Bellerophon and Pegasus continued to have more success with other challenges where Iobates set the hero, including a battle with the Amazons. However, Bellerophon, who was so arrogant and thought he could fly high enough on his winged horse to claim his place among the immortal gods, was kicked out by Pegasus and returned to Earth unceremoniously.

 Meanwhile, Pegasus continued on his way, and when he arrived on Mount Olympus, it was given to Eos, who was responsible for bringing Dawn into the sky each day. According to Hesiod, in his Theogony, Pegasus also brought thunder and lightning to Zeus when needed.

 Pegasus is also credited with creating a series of bows with an imprint of its hoof. The most famous of these was the Hippocrene spring at Mt. Helicon was near the grove sacred to the Muses and the spring at Troezen.

 Pegasus, the oldest BC. It appeared in Greek ceramics, which are 7th-century Corinthian wares. Pegasus, especially BC. It was also a popular design on coins from 6th century Corinth. A famous representation in the statue is from the pediment of the Temple of Artemis at Corcyra (580 BC). The legend of Bellerophon and Pegasus was also a popular subject in Roman art—especially engraved semiprecious stone cameos and floor mosaics—where the horse became a symbol of immortality.