Pegasus, a winged horse which had silver hooves, belonged to the goddess

Minerva.  She sent Pegasus to the nymphs. They took care of him until a rider could be found for him.
 

A little prince named Bellerophon lived in the city of Corinth .

Glaucus, his father, a skilled horseman, taught his young son how to handle a horse. Bellerophon, while still young, learned how to use 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.

Belleraphon, not knowing the contents of the letter, thanked Proetus and rod

gaily away.  When he had 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 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 galden 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 with 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 ta 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 Lobates died, Bellerophon became king. Then one day Bellerophon 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.