Pegasus and Coins

Pegasus is a winged divine stallion, usually depicted as pure white in colour, in Greek mythology.  Pegasus was an immortal, winged horse which sprang from the neck of beheaded Gorgon Medousa (Medusa). Bellerophon rode it into battle against the fire-breathing monster known as Khimaira (Chimera). 

                         

Sicily, Syracuse Agathokles, 317-289 BC, Pegasus flying, triskeles below.

Pegasus aided the hero Bellerophon (the hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome. He was the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, before the days of Heracles), in his fight against the Chimera. 

                          

Bellerophon with his horse, Pegasus, stone bas-relief, in the Palazzo Spada, Rome.

Bellerophon, was visited by the goddess in the temple of Athena and presented him with a golden bridle. Bellerophon found Pegasus drinking at the Pierian spring, caught him, and eventually tamed him.

                           

Bellerophon, Pegasus and Athena, fresco of the 3rd style from Pompeii, first half of 1st century.

 

According to early myths, everywhere the winged horse struck his hoof to the earth, an inspiring water spring burst forth. One of these springs was upon the Muses' Mount Helicon, the Hippocrene (horse spring).

Michaud's Biographie universelle relates that when Pegasus was born, he flew to where thunder and lightning are released. After Bellerophon fell off Pegasus while trying to reach Olympus, Pegasus and Athena left him and continued to Olympus where he was stabled with other steeds belonging to Zeus, and was given the task of carrying Zeus' thunderbolts, along with other members of his entourage, his attendants/shield bearers.                

Because of his years of faithful service to Zeus, Pegasus was later honoured with transformation into a constellation. On the day of his catasterism, a single feather fell to the earth near the city of Tarsus.                         

The constellation of Pegasus is the 7th largest constellation in the sky.  it stretches for around 1121 square degrees. It contains only one Messier object, the globular cluster Messier 15, is located around 33,000 light years away from Earth. Currently around 12 stars in Pegasus have been confirmed to host planets.

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 sleeve insignia. The winged horse has provided an instantly recognizable logo or emblem of inspiration. Pegasus Airlines is a low-cost airline in Turkey.

                           

The emblem of the World War II, British Airborne Forces, Bellerophon riding the flying horse Pegasus.

Pegasus's story was a favourite theme in Greek art and literature. In later antiquity, Pegasus's soaring flight was interpreted as an allegory of the soul' s immortality. In modern times it has been regarded as a symbol of poetic inspiration.  

                              

Pegasus, Attic red-figure squat lekythos, 480-460 BC, from Sicily.

Pegasus and Coins                          

Sicily, Syracuse, Agathocles, 317-289 BC, AR Stater R / Pegasus, weight 8 gm, Obverse: Head of Athena, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, decorated with griffin on the bowl. Reverse: Pegasus flying, triskeles below. 

                          

Corinthia, Corinth circa 400-375 BC, AR Stater, weight 8.1 gm, Obverse: Pegasus flying right, Q below, Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena right, aphlaston behind, retrograde EYO above. 

                       

               

Corinthia, Corinth, 345-307 BC, Stater AR, weight 8 gm, Obverse: Pegasus flying right, Q below, Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena right, quiver and bow behind, I below chin.

                             

Pontos, Amisos, Mithradates, 85-65 BC, weight 11.5 gm, Obverse: Helmeted head of Mithradates VI as the hero Perseus right, Reverse: Pegasus drinking, two monograms in exergue.

                            

Sicily, Syracuse, 344-317 BC, weight 5.1 gm, Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, Reverse: Pegasus flying.

                            

Augustus, 27 BC- AD 14, AR Denarius, weight 3.8 gm, Rome mint, Obverse: Bare head, right, Reverse: Pegasus walking 

                             

Kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander III, Drachm, 310-301 BC, Lampsakos mint, silver, weight 4.1 gm, Obverse: Head of Heracles, right wearing lion skin, Reverse: Zeus seated left, holding eagle in right hand, Pegasus forepart in field.

Pegasus

Pegasus and Coins