The Constellation: Pegasus

Mythology

Pegasus was an immortal winged horse. Pegasus was tamed by the hero Bellerophon who rode him into battle to fight the fire-breathing Khimaira. After this battle, Bellerophon attempted to ride Pegasus to the heavens; however, Pegasus bucked, throwing the hero from his back. Pegasus kept riding to the heavens, where he took his place among the stars.

In another version of the story, Pegasus is Zeus’ trusty war horse. During battle, Zeus had the power to throw lightning bolts and hurl thunder at the enemy. Pegasus was responsible for carrying Zeus’ thunder and lighting during battle. Sometimes during battles, the enemy would be very strong and Zeus’ army would get scared. Pegasus always stayed with Zeus, even when the enemy fought very hard. As a reward for Pegasus’ loyalty and bravery, Zeus placed him in the sky as a constellation.