Pegasus facts for kids
Pegasus is a famous flying horse with wings from Greek mythology. His name, Pégasos, means 'strong' in Greek. Pegasus is known as the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Medusa, a monster with snakes for hair.
In many cartoons and stories, you might see Pegasus as the horse of the strong hero Hercules. However, in the original Greek myths, Pegasus was mostly linked with another hero named Bellerophon.
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Who is Pegasus?
Pegasus is usually shown as a beautiful white horse with large, powerful wings. He can fly incredibly fast, soaring through the sky. This amazing horse could only be controlled by a special golden bridle. The goddess Athena, who was known for her wisdom, gave this bridle to Bellerophon.
How Pegasus Was Born
The story of Pegasus's birth is quite dramatic! It happened when the hero Perseus bravely fought and defeated the monster Medusa. Medusa was so terrifying that anyone who looked directly at her would turn to stone. Perseus used a shiny shield to see Medusa's reflection and avoid her deadly gaze.
When Perseus cut off Medusa's head, Pegasus sprang from her blood. Some old stories say that Perseus rode Pegasus away after this, but other tales suggest Pegasus was born just after Perseus left.
Bellerophon and the Golden Bridle
Many years later, a young man named Bellerophon lived in a city called Corinth. Bellerophon had always dreamed of riding Pegasus. However, Pegasus was wild and couldn't be tamed by just anyone.
Bellerophon decided to ask for help from the gods. He prayed to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Athena heard his prayer and gave him a magical golden bridle. With this special bridle, Bellerophon was finally able to capture and ride Pegasus.
Defeating the Chimera
Bellerophon and Pegasus soon faced a great challenge. A king's brother sent Bellerophon on a dangerous mission: to defeat the Chimera. The Chimera was a terrifying beast that breathed fire. It had the head of a lion, a goat's head growing from its back, and a snake for a tail.
Riding Pegasus, Bellerophon was able to fly above the Chimera and attack it from the air. Together, the hero and the winged horse defeated the monster. Bellerophon became a celebrated hero for his bravery.
The Flight to Mount Olympus
After his victory, Bellerophon became very proud. He decided he wanted to be immortal, like the gods. So, he tried to fly Pegasus all the way up to Mount Olympus, which was the home of the gods.
Zeus, the king of the gods, was angered by Bellerophon's arrogance. Zeus sent a gadfly, a type of stinging insect, to sting Pegasus. The sting made Pegasus buck and throw Bellerophon off his back. Bellerophon fell back to Earth, while Pegasus continued to fly up to Mount Olympus, where he lived among the gods.
Images for kids
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Silver coin of Domitian with Pegasus on the back, from 79–80 AD
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Pegasus, as the horse of Muses, on the roof of Poznań Opera House (Max Littmann, 1910)
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Bellerophon fighting the Chimera, from an ancient Greek cup found in Camiros (Rhodes)
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Left, the head of Athena wearing a helmet; right, Pegasus flying
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Wing of the Pegasus Airlines plane
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Bronze figurine from Greece, sixth century BC
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Bellerophon riding Pegasus fighting the Chimera, from an Attic red-figure pelike
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Bellerophon and the Chimera, from an Attic red-figure epinetron (a tool used in weaving)
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Reel (possibly an ear-stud) with pictures of Pegasus and Chimaira
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Pegasus, Attic red-figure squat lekythos, 480–460 BC, from Sicily
See also
In Spanish: Pegaso para niños
