Greek myths contain various legends featuring gods, titans, and heroes. However, there are also myths based on other types of beings, such as Pegasus . Without further ado, we present this wonderful Greek myth for children (which adults will also love) about this famous winged horse.
Would you like to hear a fantastic story about a flying horse, mythological characters, and great adventures? I want to tell you the most entertaining legend of Pegasus, an extraordinary horse. This fantastical creature was present during the time of Olympus and was forever fixed in the heavens.
Spend an exciting time getting to know Pegasus, the winged horse that made him so special in Greek mythology . Here you'll see how this equine was mysteriously created, how he came to belong to one of the most powerful gods of Mount Olympus, and why a beautiful constellation bears his name. You'll find you'll love reading about this story.
Who was Pegasus?
How did this fabulous creature come to be? There are two completely different versions of its origin. One is that it came from Medusa's blood and was created at the bottom of the sea, hence its name meaning "Spring." The other is that Poseidon transformed himself into a horse to be with Medusa, and that's when she became pregnant.
When he was born, his twin brother Chrysaor , the golden boy , also came into the world, though he bore no resemblance to Pegasus. Both of them were featured in amazing stories alongside the other heroes of ancient Greece.
This horse was characterized by having two amazing wings that allowed it to fly over Olympus, in the company of Zeus, the god of the Earth, who liked its abilities so much that he decided to take it over after knocking down Bellerophon, its old owner.
Bellerophon and Pegasus
Pegasus's former owner was known as Bellerophon . He was originally called Leophontes , but after he killed Bellerus, he became known by that name. There are several versions of how he came to possess the horse. One is that he received it as a gift from Poseidon. Another is that he found it drinking water at the spring of Pineros. The last is that it was a gift from the goddess Athena.
This last version is the most likely to have happened because it coincides with the story of the destruction of the Chimera , a terrible two-headed monster that terrorized the populations and all their animals. It was characterized by having the body of a goat, a snake's tail, and the heads of a lion and a dragon; it breathed fire to burn everything in its path.
According to legend, after the death of Bellerus, Bellerophon felt the need to purify himself and went to Tiryns, seeking help from King Proetus . Unfortunately for him, the king's wife fell in love with him and used various tricks to win the unfortunate young man's favor. When she didn't get what she wanted, the wicked queen lied about him, forcing her husband to remove him from the castle and send him to his father-in-law.
Bellerophon's father-in-law, Iobates, wants to get rid of him. What does he do to achieve this? He tasks him with killing the ferocious beast Chimera. Seeing how difficult this assignment would be for Bellerophon, the goddess Athena appears , playing a crucial role: she gives him the golden bridle to tame Pegasus.
They did so, forming the perfect team that defeated the fearsome Chimera monster. Soon after, they triumphed over the warrior women, daughters of Are, the god of war, better known as the Amazons , thus earning the respect of the Olympians.
Unfortunately Bellerophon was filled with pride and wanted to be one more god. Zeus, totally annoyed by his daring, sent an insect to bite Pegasus. This caused the young warrior to fall to the precipice, thus being crippled for life and without his flying horse. Once free he goes to Olympus where he is received with great joy.
Pegasus Adventures on Mount Olympus
Once Pegasus was freed, Zeus welcomed him to Olympus, where he spent the rest of his life with the gods. During his time there, he witnessed a famous singing contest featuring the Muses, daughters of Pierus. Their melodious voices were so impressive that Mount Helicon magically rose higher and higher into the sky. Faced with this threat, Poseidon told Pegasus to kick the mountain, and it returned to its normal size. On that side, the Hippocrene Spring emerged.
Another remarkable achievement of Pegasus was his appointment by Zeus as the bearer of lightning and thunder , a highly coveted honor. Furthermore, he had the privilege of guiding the chariot of the goddess Aurora at the start of each new dawn.
The constellation of Pegasus
The most beautiful gift Zeus could give Pegasus was to transform him into a magnificent constellation. In this way, he became immortal within a group of stars, the four main ones being Markab, Scheat, Pegasi, and Alpheratz , which together form the quadrant. And so that he would not be alone, Zeus placed him alongside other immense constellations, the closest being Andromeda and Lacerta.
This beautiful legend shows you the value of pets in all the adventures you may have in life. Pegasus can be any animal, and he can form an inseparable bond with you and make the best team of companions in many unforgettable moments.
