Pegasus, in Greek mythology, winged horse that carries the
thunderbolt of Zeus. He sprang full-grown from the neck of the
dying Gorgon Medusa. With a slash of his hoof, he created the
Hippocrene, a sacred spring of the Muses on Mt. Helicon. Hence,
he has often been associated with the arts, especially poetry.
Pegasus was captured by Bellerophon, who rode him through many
adventures. His name indicates a pre-Greek origin. The Columbia
Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia
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articles on: Folklore and Mythology