Pegasus / Bellerphon

Pegasus a winged horse 

which had silver hooves 

belonged to the goddess

Minerva.  She sent 

Pegasus to the nymphs 

to keep him safe. 

They took care of him 

until a rider could be 

found for him.

A little prince named 

Bellerophon lived in 

the city of Corinth .

Glaucous his father 

a skilled horseman taught 

his young son how to 

handle a horse. 

Bellerophon while still 

young learned how 

to tame any horse.

When Bellerophon was 

16 he desired adventure. 

He prepared to visit a 

neighboring king.   

Among the friends who 

came to bid him 

good-bye was Proetus 

who was jealous of 

Bellerophon.

He gave Bellerophon 

a letter for his 

father-in-law Lobates 

king of Lycia.

Bellerophon not knowing 

the contents of the letter 

thanked Proetus and rode

happily away.  When he 

reached Lycia he found 

the people in deep mourning.

He learned that a monster 

the Chimaera came into 

Lycia every night and 

carried off women and children. 

Bellerophon rode through 

the mourning city and 

presented himself to 

King Lobates in his palace. 

He gave the king the 

letter which instructed 

that he kill Bellerophon.

Lobates was troubled. 

By the laws of Lycia 

it was not permissible 

to kill a guest.

He decided to send 

Bellerophon to slay the 

Chimaera. 

Bellerophon consulted the 

wisest man in Lycia.

Advised by this man 

Bellerophon went to the 

temple of Minerva.

He offered gifts at her 

altar and lay down 

to sleep. 

When he awoke he 

saw a golden bridle 

on the floor. 

He knew that this 

was a gift from Minerva.

Holding this bridle on 

his arm he journeyed 

through the forest.

Hiding behind a well 

in the forest he saw 

the winged horse flying 

far up in the sky.

Finally Pegasus dropped 

down to the well to drink.

Bellerophon leaped from 

his hiding place and seized 

the mane of Pegasus.

He put the bridle over 

the head of Pegasus and 

leaped on his back 

between the outspread wings. 

Pegasus rose into the 

air and flew wildly. 

He could not shake 

off Bellerophon.

Finally tired and panting 

Pegasus dropped to rest 

on the grass. 

He had found his master. 

Then Bellerophon armed 

with a long spear flew 

toward the mountain where 

the Chimaera lived. 

On a rocky ledge 

outside his cave 

the monster lay 

basking in the sun.

Bellerophon approached 

and raised his spear 

to strike the Chimaera.

Lashing his tail the 

monster blew out clouds 

of smoke and fire. 

Pegasus drew back in terror.

As the Chimaera thrashed 

about Bellerophon rode 

close to the ledge and 

stuck his spear in the 

monster killing it.

Then he returned to the 

palace on the winged 

horse carrying the head 

of the monster.  

A cheering crowd 

gathered and looked 

in wonder at the winged 

horse with the silver feet.

The young daughter of 

King Lobates came 

out of the palace to 

see the hero and his horse.

She immediately fell 

in love with Bellerophon. 

Finally her father permitted 

him to marry her. 

They were happy for a 

long time and when King 

Lobates died Bellerophon 

became king. 

One day Bellerophon 

thinking himself equal 

with the gods mounted 

Pegasus and flew up to 

Mount Olympus to visit 

the gods.

Jupiter looking down 

was so angry that he 

sent a gadfly which 

stung Pegasus.

Pegasus startled flew 

away among the clouds 

in such a way that 

he was leaping 

wildly in the air.

Bellerophon was thrown 

off and fell to earth. 

Minerva caused him 

to fall onto soft ground 

and thus spared his life. 

For the rest of his life 

Bellerophon crippled 

and lonely wandered 

vainly seeking his 

wonderful horse.

The End...