Pegasus, the Horse With Wings
Greek
There is an old myth of a winged horse. Would you like to hear it? Listen.
This wonderful horse was under the care of the nine Muses. These nine fair daughters of Jupiter taught men all that is known of music, poetry, history, and the stars. It was said and believed that they helped people to remember what they taught.
And now even their names are forgotten except by the few who love to remember the things others forget.
One beautiful summer morning this winged horse appeared at the fountain of the Muses on Mount Helicon. The laughing Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, saw him as she dropped from the sky. Dancing Terpsichore tried to take him by the mane, but the white wings flashed in her face and the wonderful steed was gone before she had touched him.
Urania, the Muse who loved the heavens, believed that he was from some star world.
Clio, the Muse of History, knew that no such creature had ever lived on earth before.
They all watched for his return. The next morning he was seen again at the fountain; after that he came every day. The Muses named him Pegasus.
“We know that there is a work for all created things. What can his be?” the sisters asked one another.
Sure enough his work came at last.
In a distant land was a brave young soldier named Bellerophon. He was so bold, so fearless, and so handsome that those who ought to have been his friends became jealous of him. That means trouble, you know.
Bellerophon wished to travel. His king gave him letters on parchment to take to King Iobates of Lycia.
The king did not read the letters for ten days after Bellerophon came to Lycia. During those ten days there was feasting and dancing in honor of the new guest.
After the feasts of welcome were over, King Iobates read the letters and found that the one who sent them wanted Bellerophon punished for certain misdeeds which people said he had done.
It was a sharp trick to send such letters by the very person who was to be punished. King Iobates was puzzled as to what to do.
Then some of his wise men told him of the terrible chimera that was in the west of his kingdom. This strange creature had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a crocodile. Its breath was flames of fire, so the peasants said. Nobody dared to attack it.
“Just the thing,” said Iobates to himself, and sent for Bellerophon.
“You are the one to rid my country of this terrible monster. Do you dare to try such a task?”
Brave Bellerophon answered, “I have no fear; my heart is pure; my strength is as the strength of ten. I will go.”
That night he slept in the temple of Minerva, the wise goddess. He dreamed that Minerva brought him a golden bridle and told him to go to the fountain of Pirene and find Pegasus.
When he awoke the golden bridle was in his hand.
He went to the fountain and there he saw Pegasus drinking. Bellerophon held up the bridle and for the first time Pegasus was caught.
The brave soldier leapt on the winged horse’s back and Pegasus struck his hoofs once against the earth, and then sprang lightly towards the sky. He spread his wings and the nine Muses saw him sailing in the air with a rider on his back.
“He has found his work,” said Clio.
Bellerophon could see over all the land. He found the terrible chimera and slew it. For all its strange shape and fearful looks, it was not such a fierce animal as he had feared.
Pegasus took his rider quickly back to King Iobates’ palace and then vanished. He was found the next morning by the nine Muses drinking at their fountain.
Bellerophon was given another hard task to do when the king found that he had lived through his first.
Pegasus came at his call, and with his help everything was easy.
But as soon as one work was done King Iobates found another.
Bellerophon suspected nothing, and went bravely out to help his friend the king.
At last King Iobates said he had nothing more for him to do. After a time Bellerophon married the king’s daughter and lived quietly at home in Lycia.
Pegasus, the pet of the nine Muses, became so gentle that he would let them soar to the skies on his back, but no mortal save Bellerophon dared to touch him.
Bellerophon, having no more great earthly tasks to do, called his winged steed one morning and dared to attempt to guide him to Mount Olympus, 011 whose lofty top sat the great Jupiter on his throne in the clouds.
Jupiter, seeing him coming, sent a single gadfly to sting the tender skin of Pegasus. The gadfly dealt a cruel blow and proud Pegasus thought Bellerophon had dared to strike him.
He reared upon his haunches and sent Bellerophon reeling downward to earth, the victim of a selfish wish to outdo others. Bellerophon fell upon a rocky field far from any city. His fall made him both lame and blind. Separated from his friends he wandered alone, living as best he could, and it is not known what became of him. His winged steed fled to the fountain on Mount Helicon, but never again came at his call. He could not forget the sharp sting of the gadfly.
Some have fancied that those who love the Muses see him even in these days, and that the flash of his golden bridle is caught by a gifted few once in each century.
In the earlier ages everything in nature had its myth. We have been too practical and too full of haste in these latter days to listen to nature or to myths, but let us inspire the children to do so. Who among us has not regretted his lack of knowledge of some mythical person, in song, picture, or story?
The greater number of ways in which a truth is presented to the child, the stronger the impression that truth makes upon him. Music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and language, written or spoken, have each told the story of the sun and its glorious power over earthly creatures.
Each nation has its myth concerning the sun’s personality. Some may have adapted or adopted those of other nations; some may have originated their own theory to explain the origin of the heat and light which come from the apparent ruler of the skies. The myth is preserved through the ages, and the child in the school perceives its beauty, while he understands as well as his teacher its impossibility.
Let the plain scientific truths of the latest researches be given first. Then the fable, or folklore, or former explanation which once vouched for the origin of the sun, moon, or stars, or other natural objects, seems to the children like their own childish fancies about things unknown.
The story should follow, if possible, a tale or lesson on the subject of the myth. If the children have already had the scientific truths given them, then the myth serves as a reminder of facts already learned.
The special directions are merely suggestive. Teachers will supplement them or substitute others at their pleasure.
Suggestions for the Lesson on Phaeton
Secure, if possible, before the reading of the story of Phaeton, a good plaster cast or marble bust of Apollo, or some reproduction of the Aurora of Guido Reni. Show a picture of the temple of Apollo, if one can be obtained; let the children understand how much a part of the life of the Greek was this belief in Apollo’s power and Apollo’s beauty. The child will then begin to understand how much the ancients strove after beauty in all things.
The Indian, African, and Chinese all have their stories of the origin of light and heat, and history and geography may assist in this lesson on Phaeton.
Sprinkle water on the window sill, and notice its disappearance, caused by the heat of sunshine or of the room. Ask for the reason of a similar loss of water in the street, road, or river. What is the sun’s color? What is the color of fire? What is the sun’s effect on ice and snow, on vegetable and animal life? Does it work quietly? Is great power usually quiet?
Lower the shades in the schoolroom. Why is it dark? Close the eyes. Why is it dark? What is darkness? What causes dark or dull days? What shapes do clouds take? Are they ever like horses, cattle, sheep, or swans? Is the sun somewhere always shining? Are clouds like curtains? Paint or draw a sunrise or sunset.
Notice a rainbow, when possible, and form one with a prism in the schoolroom. What colors of the prism are shown most in sunset or sunrise? Are all shown each time? How many have seen the same colors on a soap bubble or elsewhere? Mention some other name of the sun, as Sol; the derivation of Sunday; the effect of the sun on the seasons. Describe spring, summer, autumn, and winter as persons. Is the sun king of the hours, the days, the months, and the years? Did the ancients know the real truth concerning the distance, size, and nightly disappearance of the sun? Where is the Great Bear? The Little Bear? Do you think the ancient Greeks really believed the story of Phaeton?
Reproduce it orally after reading.
Each myth may be developed in a similar way.
The following list is given as containing many books which will be helpful for reference or study, as indicating the sources of myths and the customs of the ancients, and as supplying an extended account of any mythical person or object referred to in this volume.
While each book is considered valuable, those marked with a star are especially compact, concise, and helpful to readers who can have access to but few books, and that by purchase.
GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHS.
“Age of Fable,” compiled by Thomas Bulfinch. McKay, Philadelphia $1 25
“Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology, and Geography.” D. Appleton & Co., New York. Half morocco 6 00
“The Mythology of Greece and Rome,” with special reference to its use in art, Oscar Seeman. American Book Company, New York 60
“Harper’s Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities,” edited by Harry Thurston Peck. Harper Bros., New York, 1 vol. 6 00 2 vols. 7 00
“Seiffert’s Dictionary of Classical Antiquities,” from the German of Oskar Seiffert. The Macmillan Co., New York 3 00
“Makers,” by John Fiske. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston 2 00
“The Classic Myths in English Literature,” by C.M. Gayley. Ginn & Co., Boston 1 50
“Myths of Greece and Rome,” narrated with special reference to literature and art, by H.A. Guerber. American Book Company, New York 1 50
“The Heroes,” by Charles Kingsley. Several publishers; various prices.
“The Queen of the Air,” by John Ruskin. Several publishers; various prices.
NORSE MYTHS.
“Myths of Northern Lands,” by H.A. Guerber. American Book Company, New York 1 50
“Norse Mythology, or the Religion of Our Forefathers,” by R.B. Anderson. Scott, Foresman & Co., Chicago 2 50
“Dr. Wilhelm Wagner’s Asgard and the Gods, a Manual of Norse Mythology,” edited by W.W. Macdowall. Sonnenshein & Co., London, England 2 00
RUSSIAN MYTHS.
“The Hero of Esthonia,” and other studies in the romantic literature of that country, compiled by W.F. Kirby. John C. Nimmo, London, England. 2 vols. 6 00
“Selections from the Kalevala, the Epic Poem of Finland.” Henry Holt, New York 1 50
This epic is in the same measure as Longfellow’s “Hiawatha,” and is interesting to all those who enjoy that poem.
OLDEST EGYPTIAN TALES.
“Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri.” Frederick A. Stokes & Co., New York. 2 vols., each 1 50
These tales are interesting from their evident antiquity and from the insight they give as to ancient Egyptian customs.
The following key explains the symbols which are used in the pronouncing index to indicate the pronunciation of the words. It is based upon the 1900 edition of Webster’s International Dictionary:
a- as in fate.
a- as in pref’ ace.
a- as in add.
a- as in air.
a- as in far.
a- as in grass.
a- as in all.
e- as in eve.
e- as in e-vent’.
e- as in end.
e- as in her.
i- as in ice.
i- as in i-de’ a.
i- as in pin.
o- as in row.
o- as in o-bey’.
o- as in not.
o- as in lord.
u- as in use.
u- as in u-nite’.
u- as in up.
u- as in furl.
u- as in rude.
u- as in full.
y- as in fly.
y- as in pit’ y.
oo- as in moon.
oo- as in good.
ou- as in out.
oi- as in oil.
n=ng as in ink.
Silent letters are italicized. Certain vowels, as aand e, when obscured, are also italicized.
A Adonis (a do’ nis). A youth famed for his beauty and beloved by Venus. Aeneas (e ne’ as). A valiant Trojan warrior. Aeolus (e’ o lus). The king of the winds. Aetna (et’na). The chief mountain in Sicily and highest volcano in Europe. It figures in Greek mythology as the burning mountain. ambrosia (am bro’ zha). The fabled food of the gods, which conferred immortality upon those who partook of it. Ammon (am’ mun). The Egyptian Jupiter, or supreme god. ancient (an’ shent). Old; antique. anemone (a nem’ o ne) The windflower. Antaeus (an te’ us). The son of the sea and earth, or of Neptune and Terra. Apollo (a pol’ lo). The god of the sun. Ares (a’ rez). The Greek name for Mars. Argo (ar’ go). The ship in which Jason sailed. Argus (ar’ gus). A mythical person with a hundred eyes, set by Juno to watch Io. Asgard (as’ gard). The home of the Northern gods. Athena (a the’ na). The Greek name for Minerva. Athens (ath’ enz). A city in Greece. Atlas (at’ las). The giant who bears up the sky on his shoulders. Aurora (a ro’ ra). The goddess of the dawn.
B
Bacchus (bak’ kus). The god of wine.
Baldur (bal’der). Son of Woden and brother of
Thor. The god of summer.
Baucis (ba’ sis). The wife of Philemon.
Bellerophon (bel ler’ o fon). The son of Glaucus. The
youth who slew the chimera.
Briareus (bri a’ re us). A famous giant, fabled to
have a hundred arms.
Byrgir (byr’ gir). The well to which Hjuki went for water.
C Cadmus (kad’ mus). Son of a king of Phoenicia, said to be the inventor of letters. caldron (kal’ drun). A large metal kettle. Castor (kas’ tor). Twin brother of Pollux, noted for his skill in managing horses. Celeus (se’ le us). A king of Eleusis, father of Triptolemus. He gave a kind reception to Ceres, who taught his son the cultivation of the earth. Ceres (se’ rez). The goddess of grains and fruits. chamois (sham’ my). A small species of antelope of remarkable agility. chimera (ki me’ ra). A fabulous monster in Lycia, which was slain by Bellerophon. Clio (kli’ o). The muse of history. Clymene (kli me’ ne). Mother of Phaeton. Clytie (kli’ ti e). The maiden who was changed into a sunflower. Cupid (ku’ pid). The god of love, possessing eternal youth, son of Mars and Venus.
D Daedalus (ded’ a lus). The builder of the Cretan labyrinth. Daphne (daf’ ne). A nymph beloved by Apollo. Diana (di a’ na). Goddess of the moon, twin sister of Apollo. dolphin (dol’ fin). Large sea fish.
E Echo (ek’ o). A nymph who pined away until nothing was left but her voice. Epimetheus (ep’ i me’ the us). The Titan who made man and the lower animals.
F fagots (fag’ utz). Twigs. Fensalir (fen sa ler’). The home of Frigga. forget-me-not (for get’-me-not). A small herb bearing a blue flower, and considered the emblem of fidelity. Frigga (frig’ ga). The supreme goddess of the Northland, wife of Woden.
G Gemini (jem’ i ni). A constellation containing the two bright stars, Castor and Pollux. Gordius (gor’ di us). A peasant who, by direction of an oracle, was proclaimed King of Phrygia. Great Bear (great bear). The name often given to the stars forming the Big Dipper, or Charles’ Wain.
H Halcyone (hal si’ o ne). A daughter of Aeolus, who, for love of her drowned husband, threw herself into the sea and was changed into the kingfisher. Hela (hel’ a). The ruler of the land of death. Helicon (hel’ i kon). Famous mountain of Greece. Hercules (her’ ku lez). The most famous hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus or Jupiter. Hermod (her’ mod). A hero of Norse mythology, and a brother of Baldur. Hjuki (ju’ ki). Jack, the boy who went with Bil, or Jill, for water. Hodur (ho’ der). The blind god who threw the fatal branch of mistletoe at Baldur. The god of winter.
I
Icarus (ik’ a rus). A son of Daedalus.
Iobates (i ob’ a tez). The King of Lycia.
Iris (i’ ris). Juno’s maid, a personification of the
rainbow.
J Jason (ja’ sun). A prince of Thessaly, who brought away from Colchis the golden fleece. Juno (ju’ no). The wife of Jupiter. Jupiter (ju’ pi ter). In Roman mythology, the supreme god of heaven.
L laboratory (lab’ o ra to ry). The workroom of a chemist. Latin (lat’ in). The language of the ancient Romans. Latona (la to’ na). The wife of Jupiter and the mother of Apollo and Diana. Leda (le’ da). The mother of Castor and Pollux, and of Helen of Troy. Lindu (lin’ du). A maiden who had charge of the birds, identified with the Milky Way. Loki (lo’ ki). The god who caused Hodur to throw the fatal branch of mistletoe at Baldur. The god of fire.
M Mani (ma’ ni). The Norse god of the moon. Mars (marz). The Roman god of war. Mercury (mer’ ku ry). The Roman god of commerce and gain. Personification of the wind, which fills the sails of merchant-vessels. Midas (mi’ das). Son of Gordius and King of Phrygia. Minerva (mi ner’ va). The goddess of wisdom. Mount Olympus (o lim’ pus). The home of Jupiter and the Greek gods.
N Narcissus (nar sis’ sus). A beautiful youth, who was changed into the flower narcissus. nectar (nek’ ter). The drink of the gods. Neptune (nep’ tune). The ruler of the sea. Norwegian (nor we’ ji an). A native of Norway.
O Odin (o’ din). The same as Woden. Olympian (o lim’ pi an). Pertaining to Olympus, the seat of the gods. Orion (o ri’ on). A giant hunter, whose name was given to a constellation. Orpheus (or’ fe us). A poet and musician, who with his sweet lyre charmed the very rocks and trees to follow him.
P
Pactolus (pak to’ lus). A river of Lydia.
Pegasus (peg’ a sus). A winged horse belonging to
Apollo and the Muses.
Perdix (per’ diks). The nephew of Daedalus; changed
by Athena into a partridge.
Phaeton (fa’ e ton). A son ot Apollo.
Phenice (fe ni’ se). Phoenicia; Tyre and Sidon; a
land west of Palestine.
Philemon (fi le’ mun). An aged Phrygian, the husband
of Baucis.
Phrygia (frij’ i a). A country of Asia Minor.
Pirene (pi re’ ne). The fountain at which Pegasus
could be found.
Pleiades (ple’ ya dez). The seven daughters of Atlas.
Made by Jupiter a constellation in the sky.
Pluto (plu’ to). The god of the lower world, or Hades.
Pollux (pol’ luks). A famous pugilist, and twin
brother of Castor.
Poseidon (po sei’ don). The Greek name of Neptune.
Prometheus (pro me’ the us). The Titan who gave
fire to man.
Proserpina (pro ser’ pi na). The daughter of Ceres.
python (py’ thon). A mythical serpent killed near
Delphi by Apollo.
R
realm (realm). Kingdom.
reigned (rand). Ruled; governed.
Runic (ru’ nik). Pertaining to the letters called
“runes,” belonging to the language of the ancient
Norsemen.
S sandal (san’ dal). A kind of shoe consisting of a sole strapped to the foot. Saturn (sat’ urn). The father of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. Scandinavian (skan di na’ vi an). Of or pertaining to Scandinavia; that is, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Sibyl (sib’ il). A woman supposed to be endowed with a spirit of prophecy. Sicily (sis’ i ly). The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Silenus (si le’ nus). The foster-father of Bacchus. Sleipnir (slap’ ner). The swift eight-legged horse of Odin. Sonmus (som’ nus). The king of sleep. Sparta (spar’ ta). Ancient city of Greece.
T Taara (taa’ ra.). The mythical home of Vanemuine. Terpsichore (terp sik’ o re). The muse who presided over dancing. Terra (ter’ ra). The personification of earth. Thalia (tha li’ a). The muse of joy. Thebes (thebz). Greek city now called Thion; birth-place of Hercules. Also name of Egyptian city. Thor (thor). The Norse god of thunder. Thrace (tras). A region in Southeastern Europe, with varying boundaries. In early times it was regarded as the entire region north of Greece. Titans (ti’ tanz). Primeval giants, children of heaven and earth. Tithonus (ti tho’ nus). The husband of Aurora; changed into a grasshopper. tortoise (tor’ tis). A kind of turtle. trident (tri’ dent). A spear with three prongs—the common attribute of Neptune. Trojan (tro’ jan). Of or pertaining to ancient Troy.
U
Uko (u’ ko). The father of Lindu; also spelled Ukko.
Ulysses (u lis’ sez). The King of Ithaca.
Urania (u ra’ ni a). The muse of astronomy.
V
Valkyrias (val kir’ i as). Woden’s shield-maidens
who presided over battlefields and marked those
who were to be slain.
Valhalla (val hal’ la). The Norse heaven.
Vanemuine (va nem’ u en). A god of Finland.
Varrak (var’ rak). A Laplander.
Venus (ve’ nus). A Roman goddess of love and beauty.
W
Woden (wo’ den). In Norse myths the supreme god
of heaven; also spelled Odin.
Z
Zeus (zus). Greek name for Jupiter.