In Greek mythology, Pegasus (Greek: Πήγασος , Pégasos , 'strong') was a winged horse sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing.
Etymology
The poet Hesiod connects the name Pegasus with the word for "spring, well", pēgē : "the pegai of Okeanos, where he was born;" however, the name's origins may come from the word in the Luwian language: pihassas , meaning "lightning".
Pegasus and springs
Everywhere the winged horse struck his hoof to the earth, an inspiring spring burst forth. One of these springs was upon the Muses' Mount Helicon, the Hippocrene ("horse spring"), opened, Antoninus Liberalis suggested, at the behest of Poseidon to prevent the mountain swelling with rapture at the song of the Muses; another was at Troezen. Hesiod relates how Pegasus was peacefully drinking from a spring when the hero Bellerophon captured him. Hesiod also says Pegasus carried thunderbolts for Zeus.
Birth
There are several versions of the birth of the winged stallion and his brother Chrysaor in the far distant place at the edge of Earth, Hesiod's "springs of Oceanus, which encircles the inhabited earth, where Perseus found Medusa:
One is that they sprang from the blood issuing from Medusa's neck as Perseus was beheading her, similar to the manner in which Athena was born from the head of Zeus. In another version, when Perseus beheaded Medusa, they were born of the Earth, fed by the Gorgon's blood. A variation of this story holds that they were formed from the mingling of Medusa's blood and sea foam, implying that Poseidon had involvement in their making. The last version bears resemblance to the birth of Aphrodite.
Bellerophon
Pegasus aided the hero Bellerophon in his fight against both the Chimera and the Amazons. There are varying tales as to how Bellerophon found Pegasus; the most common says that the hero was told by Polyeidos to sleep in the temple of Athena, where the goddess visited him in the night and presented him with a golden bridle. The next morning, still clutching the bridle, he found Pegasus drinking at the Pierian spring. When the steed saw the bridle, he approached Bellerophon and allowed him to ride. Bellerophon slew the Chimera on Pegasus' back, and then tried to ride the winged horse to the top of Mount Olympus to see the gods. However, Zeus sent down a gadfly to sting Pegasus and cause Bellerophon to fall.
Perseus
Michaud's Biographie universelle relates that when Pegasus was born, he flew to where thunder and lightning is released. Then, according to certain versions of the myth, Athena tamed him and gave him to Perseus, who flew to Ethiopia to help Andromeda.
In fact Pegasus is a late addition to the story of Perseus, who flew on his own with the sandals loaned him by Hermes.
Olympus
Pegasus left Bellerophon and continued to Olympus where he was stabled with Zeus' other steeds
Catasterism
Because of his faithful service to Zeus, he was honored with transformation into a constellation. On the day of his catasterism , when Zeus transformed him into a constellation, a single feather fell to the earth near the city of Tarsus.
Legacy
In modern terminology, the word "pegasus" (plural "pegasi") has come to refer to any winged horse, though the term "pterippus" (meaning winged horse , plural "pterippi") is also used.
World War II
During World War II, the silhouetted image of Bellerophon the warrior, mounted on the winged Pegasus, was adopted by the United Kingdom's newly-raised parachute troops in 1941 as their upper sleeve insignia. The image clearly symbolized a warrior arriving at a battle by air, the same tactics used by paratroopers. The square upper-sleeve insignia comprised Bellerophon/Pegasus in light blue on a maroon background. The insignia was designed by famous English novelist Daphne du Maurier, who was married to the commander of the 1st Airborne Division (and later the expanded British Airborne Forces), General Frederick "Boy" Browning. The maroon background on the insignia was later used again by the Airborne Forces when they adopted the famous maroon beret in Summer 1942. The beret was the origin of the German nickname for British airborne troops, The Red Devils. Today's Parachute Regiment carries on the maroon beret tradition.
During the airborne phase of the Normandy invasion on the night of 5-6 June 1944, British 6th Airborne Division captured all its key objectives in advance of the seaborne assault, including the capture and holding at all costs of a vital bridge over the Caen Canal, near Ouistreham. In memory of their tenacity, the bridge has been known ever since as Pegasus Bridge.
Corporate and commercial uses
Pegasus logo has been used for over 29 years, by Courier Company Pegasus Express Ltd, and is seen on all vehicles and trailers, and depots in Scotland/England.
Pegasus has been the symbol of the Mobil brand of gas and oil, marketed by the Exxon Mobil Corporation, since the 1930s and, more recently, FBR Capital Markets, an investment bank based in Arlington, Virginia. As such, it has also been a symbol of Dallas, Texas, gracing its skyline atop the Magnolia building.
The Poetry Foundation also uses Pegasus as its logo; the Buell Motorcycle Company uses Pegasus as a visual branding element. The former Pegaso truck maker from Spain derived its name and logo from Pegasus, although the logo portrayed a merely fast, wingless horse silhouette. Reader's Digest also has a Pegasus logo.
A Pegasus is the emblem of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, which names its bar the Pegasus.
The Taiwanese company Asus took its name from the creature, omitting the first three letters in order for the company to appear first in telephone listings.
Mascot of the Kentucky Derby Festival, a community celebration leading up to the Run for the Roses (aka: the Kentucky Derby) in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Turkish Pegasus Airlines uses word and emblem (amblem in Turkish) of pegasus.
PEGASYS (Hoffmann–La Roche) for the treatment of hepatitis C, is a once-a-week injection that works to reduce the amount of hepatitis C virus in the body.
Pegasus is known for being the mascot of TriStar Pictures.
Pegasus is the name of a medevac helicopter based at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Pegasus transports critically injured patients within 120 NM (220 km; 140 mi) of Charlottesville, Virginia. The name was chosen because it was different from most other medevac programs, and there are stories of Pegasus carrying wounded soldiers from battle.
Pegasus is also featured on the coat of arms of Robinson College, part of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow Scotland, uses an online service called PEGASUS (Portal Engine Giving Access To Strathclyde University Systems)to provide its students with crucial information. Pegasus was chosen for the academic seal of the University of Central Florida, in 1963, by its first president, Dr. Charles Millican, who co-designed it.
A pegasus also appears in the turbines of all Air France aircrafts.
Nike Inc. has produced a brand of running shoe named the Air Pegasus 26.
Pegasus Mail is the name of an email client.
Popular culture
Films
Pegasus has appeared in several films, including the animated films Fantasia , Hercules , and Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus along with the stop motion film, Clash of the Titans and, as a name only, Johnny English . In Disney's Fantasia Pegasi are featured during the visualized "Pastoral Symphony" segment, along with other mythical creatures including unicorns and centaurs and in Hercules he is the winged horse sidekick and friend to Hercules, the main character. In Clash of the Titans , Pegasus is captured by Perseus before Perseus visits and kills Medusa the Gorgon. This version, changes the method of Pegasus' birth - although no further details are given, save a comment from Zeus that Pegasus is the sole surviving winged horse from a herd of the creatures, the rest killed by Thetis' son, Calibos. In Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus , Pegasus is the winged horse who helps Princess Annika and in Johnny English , starring Rowan Atkinson, Pegasus, played by Tim Pigott-Smith, is the name of the head of the MI-7 spy cartel to which the hapless Mr. English reports. A pegasus can be seen on the TriStar logo.
Television
On television, Pegasus has been featured in Stargate Atlantis as a galaxy, both versions of Battlestar Galactica,
Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007 Running Shoes (White) [NIK3422] - SportsShoes ...
Great price Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007 Running Shoes in white. Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007 Running Shoes. Nike's legendary shoe for the runner seeking a great neutral shoe. Featuring a Nike ...
Nike retro running shoes - Shop authentic Nike retro running training ...
Shop authentic Nike retro running training shoes and sneakers, including Nike Air Structure, Nike Air Presto and Nike Air Pegasus
Nike.com - Official Site for Nike Shoes, Clothing & Gear
Explore Nike.com for the latest in Nike shoes, clothing and gear. Shop Nike's official online store for sportswear direct from Nike ... Running; Skateboarding; Soccer; Timing / Watches ...
Buy Mens Nike Running Shoes | Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007 - Road Runner ...
Buy Mens Nike Running Shoes | Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007 - Road Runner Sports - Men's Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007 :: You'll be happy to know the acclaimed men's Nike® Air Pegasus+ running ...
Nike Air Pegasus Running Shoes with Free Shipping | RRS
You are guaranteed at Road Runner Sports to get the best price on the full line of Mens and Womens Nike Air Pegasus running shoes including the 2004 and 2005, Air Zoom Pegasus ...
Nike+ Air Pegasus+ 26 Road-Running Shoes - Women's at REI.com
The Nike+ Air Pegasus+ 26 road-running shoes provide smooth cushioning and a supportive, comfortable fit over long distances. Add Nike+ sensor and iPod nano to track data.
Nike Official Store. Nike Air Pegasus 25+ (10.5c-6y) Girls' Running ...
Nike Air Pegasus 25+ (10.5c-6y) Girls' Running Shoe Overview Get her off on the right foot with the classic ... Narrow Shoes
Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 Running Shoes (Men's) - Yahoo! Shopping
Yahoo! Shopping is the best place to comparison shop for Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 Running Shoes (Men's) - Running Shoes. Compare products, compare prices, read reviews and merchant ...
Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 (Extra-Wide) Running Shoes (Men's) - Yahoo ...
Yahoo! Shopping is the best place to comparison shop for Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 (Extra-Wide) Running Shoes (Men's) - Running Shoes. Compare products, compare prices, read reviews ...
Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 - Running Shoes - Running - Choose Your Sport ...
The Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 Men's Running Shoe has been boosting runners for 25 years. Experience perfect cushioning, lightweight flexibility and fit.