Pegasus

This oil lamp features an image of a winged horse, the famous Pegasus of Greek and Roman mythology. The life of Pegasus was chronicled by many ancient writers including Hesiod, Plato, Strabo, Pausanias, Ovid, and Apuleius (to name a few).

When the hero Perseus beheaded the monster Medusa, the winged-horse Pegasus sprang from her neck, sired by her earlier union with Poseidon. The animal was later tamed by the hero Bellerophon, who was given a golden bridle by the goddess Athena. After capturing and taming Pegasus, Bellerophon rode him into the skies to defeat the Chimera.

Later, Bellerophon attempted to ride Pegasus up to heaven, but the hero fell off and died (as the convention has it, when human hubris is at play). Pegasus was brought into the sky by Zeus, who had the horse carry lightning and thunder, and preserved in the constellation known as Hippos.

Like many myths, the story of Pegasus can be re-told and interpreted in many ways. The icon of the winged horse was used on ancient coinage, medieval heraldry, and throughout visual culture.

Author: Georgian Parkes