Pegasus is the winged horse from Greek Mythology
who sprang from Medusa's neck when she was killed
by the hero Perseus. Shortly after its birth, the
magical steed struck the ground with his hoof on
Mount Helicon, and on the spot a stream began to
flow which became sacred to the Muses. It was
believed to be a source for poetic inspiration.
All longed in vain to catch and tame the creature,
and this became the obsession of Bellerophon,
Prince of Corinth. On the advise of a seer,
Bellerophon spent the night in the temple of the
Goddess Athena. As he slept, the Goddess appeared
to him with a golden bridle and told him that it
would enable him to capture Pegasus. When he
awoke, he found the golden bridle beside him, and
with it he easily captured and tamed the wild horse.
He then attempted to fly Pegasus to Olympus to join
the Gods, but an angry Zeus sent an insect to sting
Pegasus, causing him to throw Bellerophon from his
back. Consequently, Bellerophon thereafter wandered
the earth alone. Some stories place Pegasus in Zeus'
stables after this, entrusted with the task of bringing
thunderbolts and lightning to the God.
