Pegasus - what kind of creature is this in ancient mythology? Pegasus - mythology. Dictionary of Greek Mythology

Pegasus

pega with(Pegasus), (P capital), pegasus, husband. In ancient Greek mythology, the winged horse Pegasos, born from the blood of the headless Medusa, under the blow of whose hoof the source of Hypocrene gushed, inspiring poets (is an integral part of the image of the poet in the form of a horseman). “Pegasus knocked out another Hypocrene with his hoof before you.” Pushkin(about Yazykov). “When Pegasus is tightly squeezed along the ribs by a daring rider, don’t worry if they whip him with a critical whip.” Baratynsky.

Ride Pegasus ( books joking) - start writing poetry. “- Artist, and you are among the servants of Parnassus! You want to ride the stubborn Pegasus!” Pushkin.

Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language

Pegasus

Saddle/saddle Pegasus book- take up poetry, start writing poetry

Ancient world. Dictionary-reference book

Pegasus

(from Greek pege - source)

in Greek mythology, a winged horse that emerged from drops of the blood of the gorgon Medusa when Perseus cut off her head. From the blow of P.'s hoof on Mount Helikon, the wonderful spring of Hypocrene began to flow, giving inspiration to poets. On Olympus, P. offered thunder and lightning to Zeus.

(I.A. Lisovy, K.A. Revyako. The ancient world in terms, names and titles: Dictionary-reference book on the history and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome / Scientific editor. A.I. Nemirovsky. - 3rd ed. - Mn: Belarus, 2001)

According to the post-Homeric legend, the winged horse of Bellerophon, born from the blood of Medusa killed by Perseus. Bellerophon caught Pegasus while he was drinking from the Peirene spring. This source can still be seen among the ruins of Old Corinth. "Unbridled Pegasus" was considered a symbol of Corinth and was depicted on coins. After Pegasus, with the blow of his magic hoof, carved out the Hippocrene spring ("horse spring") on Mount Helicon, he became the favorite of the muses. Together with Bellerophon, Pegasus was often depicted on antique vases.

Later, Pegasus becomes a symbol of unbridled poetic flight of fancy and in this capacity often appears in poetry.

(Modern dictionary-reference book: Ancient world. Compiled by M.I. Umnov. M.: Olimp, AST, 2000)

in gr. mythology, a winged horse, which with a blow of its hoof carved out the source of Hippocrene on the mountain of the muses Helikon. Its water, according to legend, inspired poets.

(Ancient culture: literature, theater, art, philosophy, science. Dictionary-reference book / Edited by V.N. Yarkho. M., 1995.)

Phraseological Dictionary (Volkova)

Pegasus

Ride Pegasus (book joking) - start writing poetry.

-Artist, and you are among the servants of Parnassus! You want to ride the stubborn Pegasus! A. Pushkin.

Dictionary of forgotten and difficult words of the 18th-19th centuries

Pegasus

, A , m.

In ancient Greek mythology, a winged horse, from the blow of whose hoof a wonderful spring flowed, giving inspiration to poets; symbol of poetic creativity; inspiration.

* Ah, in the years of my youth, Sad, unselfishly difficult, In short - very reckless, - Where was my Pegasus?. // Nekrasov. Poems // /; He is kind, a member of our Parnassus, funny to the beauties of Moscow, on the wings of a decrepit Pegasus he flies into the world of dreams. // Lermontov. Poems // / *

◘ RIDE PEGASUS - get creative.

* You want to ride the stubborn Pegasus and boldly enter into battle with strict criticism. // Pushkin. Poems // *

Astronomical Dictionary

Pegasus

1) In Greek mythology, a winged horse born from the body of the gorgon Medusa killed by Perseus. From the blow of Pegasus' hoof on Mount Helikon, the source of Hippocrene arose, from which poets drew inspiration. The image of Pegasus is a symbol of poetic inspiration (“to ride Pegasus”).

2) (lat. Pegasus) equatorial constellation. Pegasus is home to one of the closest galaxy clusters.

Dictionary of mythology by M. Ladygin.

Pegasus

Pegasus- in ancient Greek mythology, the magical winged horse of the hero Bellerophon, later turned into a constellation; One day he pierced Mount Helikon with his hoof, and Hippocrene appeared there - a source of poetic inspiration.

Sources:

● M.B. Ladygin, O.M. Ladygina Brief mythological dictionary - M.: Publishing house NOU "Polar Star", 2003.

Dictionary of Greek Mythology

Pegasus

Winged horse. P., as the fruit of the relationship between the gorgon Medusa and Poseidon, appeared from drops of Medusa’s blood when Perseus killed her. P. received his name because he was born at the source of the Ocean (Greek “source”). He ascended to Olympus and delivers thunder and lightning to Zeus there. According to another myth, the gods gave P. Bellerophon, and he, taking off on it, killed the winged monster chimera, which was devastating the country. With a blow of his hoof, P. knocked out the Hippocrene (“horse spring”) spring on Helikon, the water of which gives inspiration to poets.

Saddle Pegasus Saddle up Pegasus. RIDE PEGASUS. Outdated Iron. Do poetry. Since then, in any issue I could read about Lev Cambek and not read about Leo Tolstoy, I stopped saddled Pegasus(Apukhtin. Amateur).

Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008.

See what “Saddle Pegasus” is in other dictionaries:

Saddle/ride Pegasus- Book Start writing poetry, become a poet. /i>

Saddle up Pegasus. RIDE PEGASUS. Outdated Iron. Do poetry. Since then, in any issue I could read about Lev Cambek and not read about Leo Tolstoy, I stopped saddled Pegasus (Apukhtin. Amateur) ... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Literary Language

PEGASUS- (Greek pegasos, from pegai source). In mythology, a winged horse born from the blood of a jellyfish when Perseus cut off her head and with a kick produced the source of Hippocrene. 2) constellation of the northern hemisphere. 3) kind of fish. Dictionary of foreign words included in... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

PEGASUS- Saddle/ride Pegasus. Book Start writing poetry, become a poet. /i> Pegasus is the winged horse of Zeus in ancient Greek mythology, which became a symbol of poetic inspiration. FSRY, 312; BMS 1998, 434 ... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

Pegasus- I. PEGASUS I a, m. Pégase gr. Pegasos pege source. In gr. mythology, a winged horse, from the blow of whose hoof a wonderful spring flowed, giving inspiration to poets. 1. A fabulous winged horse among the ancient Greeks, symbolizing the poetic... ...

literary creativity- ▲ creativity fiction iron: scribbler. greyhound writer. scribbler. paperwork. dirty guy. maraca. maratel. get dirty. get dirty. clicker graphomaniac. sonneteer. rhymer. virsheplet. rhymer (colloquial). piita. versifier. writing... Ideographic Dictionary of the Russian Language

Parnassus- a, m. Parnasse. 1. P. capital. The name of the Greek mountain range, which, according to ancient Greek mythological beliefs, served as the residence of Apollo and the muses. BAS 1. || trans., obsolete, poet. P uppercase and lowercase. The world of poetry, poetry;… … Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

RIDE PEGASUS. Outdated Iron. Do poetry. Since then, in any issue I could read about Lev Cambek and not read about Leo Tolstoy, I stopped saddled Pegasus(Apukhtin. Amateur).

Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008.

See what “Ride Pegasus” is in other dictionaries:

ride pegasus- to soar in thought, to take wing, to ignite, to saddle your pegasus, to ignite, to soar in spirit, to feel the wings singing behind your back, to be inspired, to be inspired Dictionary of Russian synonyms ... Synonym dictionary

Saddle/ride Pegasus- Book Start writing poetry, become a poet. /i> Pegasus is the winged horse of Zeus in ancient Greek mythology, which became a symbol of poetic inspiration. FSRY, 312; BMS 1998, 434 ... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

ride your horse

ride your favorite horse- who My advice to you: during exams you should strive to ride your favorite horse and tell what you know, without letting the examiner ask questions... (Speech) You young people can’t even imagine what we got... Well, Think,… … Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language

Pegasus- Ride Pegasus (book joke) and start writing poetry. Artist, and you are among the servants of Parnassus! You want to ride the stubborn Pegasus! A. Pushkin... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language

Pegasus- A; m. [with a capital letter] 1. In ancient Greek mythology: a winged horse, from the blow of whose hoof a wonderful spring flowed, giving inspiration to poets. ● Symbolizes eloquence, poetic inspiration and contemplation Ride Pegasus (become a poet... encyclopedic Dictionary

PEGASUS- (Pegasus), (P capital), pegasus, husband. In ancient Greek mythology, the winged horse Pegasos, born from the blood of the headless Medusa, under the blow of whose hoof the spring of Hypocrene gushed, inspiring poets (is an integral part of the image... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Books

Ride Pegasus, or How to Write Poetry: A Guide for the Beginning Poet, Curius S.. This book will open the door to the wonderful world of poetry, teach the basic rules of versification, help the reader develop an idea of the very subject and essence of poetry, show everything... Buy for 156 rubles
Ride Pegasus or How to write poetry. for the beginning poet, Curius S.. This book will open the door to the wonderful world of poetry, teach the basic rules of versification, help form the reader’s idea of the very subject and essence of poetry, show everything...

It is interesting that Hercules performed one of his labors in the same region as his distant ancestor Perseus. It was there, far in the West, that Chrysaor, the father of Geryon, and the winged horse Pegasus were born. Their birth occurred when Perseus beheaded Medusa. Many years later, Perseus's great-grandson Hercules will visit the places of his ancestor's military glory to steal Geryon's cows. And now we will look at the deeds of Perseus, when, as a result of long efforts, he overcame all obstacles and cut off the head of the evil sorceress Medusa, whose gaze turned people into stone. The plot about the feat of Perseus has all the signs of a fairy-tale space: here are winged sandals, an invisibility cap, fantastic heads of gorgons covered with dragon scales, and magical nymphs, and, of course, the winged horse Pegasus, which has become a symbol of poetic inspiration. The Hellenes were sure that he looked something like this:

Researchers of mythology find similarities between this plot and many similar ones among other peoples of the world. But is it only folk fantasy that draws wings on a horse in order to clearly show the speed of movement on it? After all, fantasy often depicts means of overcoming real obstacles. What real events can be hidden behind the magical objects and Perseus' mission? In this story we learn the secret meaning of these magical objects, the purpose of Perseus' flight over the ocean, the mystery of the birth of such strange brothers as Pegasus and Chrysaor (a horse and a man!) from an equally curious couple like Medusa and Poseidon (an evil sorceress and the brother of the king of the gods!) . Let's turn to the source.

Apollodorus, "Mythological Library", Book II:
“The king of the island of Serif, Polydectes, brother of Dictys, fell in love with Danae, and, since he could not get along with her because of the matured Perseus, he called close people and told them that he needed help to woo the daughter of Oinomaus Hippodamia. When Perseus said that he would not refuse him the head of the Gorgon, Polydectes asked all the other horses, but from Perseus, without taking the horses from him, he demanded to bring him the head of the Gorgon.

Perseus, led by Hermes and Athena, arrived to the daughters of Forcus - Enio, Pefredo and Dino. They descended from Keto and Fork, were Gorgon sisters and old women from birth. On all three they had one tooth and one eye and exchanged them in turn. Perseus took possession of this tooth and eye and, when they began to ask him to give up the stolen property, he promised if they would show him the road leading to the nymphs. These nymphs had winged sandals and a shoulder bag called κίβισις; They also had a hat.

When Fork's daughters brought him to the nymphs, he gave them an eye and a tooth, and from the nymphs he received what he was trying to get to them for. He put on a bag, attached sandals to his ankles, and covered his head with a hat. Having put it on, he saw everyone he wanted, but others did not see him. Taking a curved steel sword from Hermes, he flew over the ocean and found the Gorgon sisters sleeping. Their names were Stheno, Euryale and Medusa. The only mortal among them was Medusa: for this reason Perseus was sent to bring her head. The Gorgons' heads were covered with dragon scales, they had fangs the same size as boars, copper arms and golden wings on which they flew. Everyone who looked at them turned to stone.

Coming close to the sleeping sisters, Perseus, whose hand was guided by the goddess Athena, turned away and, looking into the copper shield, where he saw the reflection of the Gorgon, beheaded Medusa. As soon as the head was cut off, the winged horse Pegasus and Chrysaor, the father of Geryon, jumped out of the Gorgon. Medusa gave birth to them from the god Poseidon."

And Perseus set off on the return journey, which would lead him to finding a wife and killing his grandfather Acrisius, to power in Tiryns and numerous offspring.

Let's consider the motives of the heroes in this story. Formally, Polydectes sets the task for Perseus. But the pretext under which the latter demands that he bring Medusa’s head is completely far-fetched. Judge for yourself. At this point, Perseus is approximately 20-25 years old, and his mother Danae is at least 40 years old. Polydectes, who is in love with Danae, is also not young, but he acts extremely illogically: he decides to woo Hippodamia (“Horse Tamer”)! The first does not fit with the second. There are two contradictions here at once. Nothing stopped Polydectes from marrying Danae when Perseus was still a baby. And second. How can the head of the gorgon solve his question of wooing Hippodamia? Obviously not. Thus, neither love for Danae nor matchmaking for Hippodamia is a reason for delivering the head of Medusa to Polydectes. To woo Hippodamia, Polydectes needs horses to participate in chariot competitions. But he also needs ships to get to Pisa from the island of Serif. Pisa is located in Elis, on the western coast of the Peloponnese. But perhaps he thinks that he can win the competition if he harnesses Pegasus to his chariot? Then he needs Pegasus, and not the head of the gorgon Medusa. And ships.
Be that as it may, the task that Polydectes sets for Perseus is extremely risky and the hero certainly cannot accomplish it alone. The Gorgon sisters live somewhere beyond the world known to the Achaeans on the outskirts of the Mediterranean Sea. A young 20-year-old simply won’t find his way there. That is why the route plan was drawn up by Hermes and Athena (apparently, they set the task for Perseus through Polydectes) and the young hero is naturally not privy to all the details of this plan.

The mystery in the description of subsequent events can be easily explained if we understand that the expedition, together with Perseus, is approaching an object with extremely guarded approaches to it. This actually looks like a special operation. To begin capturing Pegasus (and the goal of the expedition is undoubtedly the “winged horse”!), Perseus blackmails the guards - the “daughters of Fork”. The facility is guarded by three guards around the clock. Having captured the sword (“tooth”) of one guard, Perseus promises to return it if he gets to the “nymphs” who own winged sandals, a shoulder bag and an invisible hat. The meaning of the invisibility cap is simple: Perseus dresses up as a guard and...becomes invisible - they take him for one of their own! He sees everyone, but the real him! - no one sees! With the help of winged sandals, Perseus flies over the ocean (it seems to be towards an island), which is why they should be seen as a sea ship or boat. The mystery of the winged sandals, like the winged Pegasus, has one source: it is a symbolic description of a ship whose wings are oars. Below I will describe in detail why the Hellenes - listeners and keepers of myths - began to perceive the stories of the Achaean chronicles this way. So, Perseus approaches the sleeping "gorgons". Therefore, the operation takes place at night and they do not expect an attack. In the darkness of the night, the effect of the invisibility cap increases and Medusa does not see the danger. Poor woman! Yes, she is still sleeping. He will kill Medusa while she is sleeping... What kind of feat is this?! If it's a woman. But the appearance of the gorgons is amazing, reality is mixed with fantasy: the heads of the gorgons are covered with scales, huge fangs, copper hands and golden wings on which they fly. It seems that this is not a woman... But if this is a woman, then what kind of brave man is he who is afraid to look at a sleeping woman! Sleeping women are not dangerous at all! Why should everyone who looks at the gorgons die (turn to stone)? Because they are protecting something very important and necessary, some secret or value. This could be either a parking lot for ships loaded with silver or gold, or a shipyard where ships were built. The word Μέδουσα means “mistress, guardian.” Thus, the fantastic gorgon is simply a guard. And as soon as the guards are beheaded, the “children” of Medusa and Poseidon - the winged horse Pegasus and Chrysaor, the father of Geryon - gain freedom. The name of Pegasus's "brother" means "Golden Sword". But why do the god and the witch have such strange children - a horse and a man? Do they really have such bad heredity that they cannot give birth to others like themselves? And it was for the cows of Geryon that many years later Hercules would make his famous campaign to these places, and we will talk about some of the circumstances of this campaign. But, as we have repeatedly seen, “cows” and “bulls” are “beads” or “minotaurs,” that is, warships of the Achaeans. In this case, isn’t the winged horse Pegasus the “brother” to the bulls of Geryon, Minos, the Cretan bull, the bull on which Zeus transported Europe to Crete and other bulls... The Achaeans called trading ships ἱππό-καμπος - hippocampi. Sometimes with hydropuss. Sea or water horses. This is exactly how Penelope talks about them in her conversation with Medon.

Homer, Odyssey, canto four, 707-709:
"Messenger, where did my son go? Why did he have to
Sail somewhere on fast ships, like sea horses
Adults serve their husbands, running through the great moisture?
(Translated by V. Veresaev)

The Hellenes had many names for ships: “Enners”, “Eperetmas”, “Carabion”, “Navs”, “Penteres”, “Hexers”, etc. Types of ships were distinguished by the number of oars: "triskider" - 13, "eikosora" - 20, "triacontera" - 30, "pentekontera" - 50 oars. But for the Achaeans, warships are “beads” or “minotaurs,” and merchant ships are “hippocampi” or “hydripussus.” On the nose of the first there were images of bull heads, on the nose of the second - seahorses. Hippocampi are inhabitants of the depths of the sea, amazing marine animals, their offspring are born by males. Childbirth for a father can be painful and can even end in the death of the father. It is unlikely that the Achaeans knew about this feature of seahorses. But something struck them with their appearance and way of life, and they began to depict these cute animals on the bows of their trading ships.

The Phoenicians called their ships the same way. The Achaeans borrowed both names and production technology from them. But where did the “sea horse” get its wings? And this is what the great Hellenic says about this through the mouth of Teresius, when the soothsayer reveals to Odysseus the secret of his last refuge and ... “the oars that serve as wings for our ships at sea.”

Homer, Odyssey, canto eleven, 119-129:
"After you kill the suitors in your house
With fatal copper, - openly or by cunning, - go again
Wander, choosing an oar according to your hand, and wander until
You won’t come to the land to men who don’t know the sea,
They never salt their food, they have never seen
Purple-cheeked ships, never seen and built solidly
The oars that serve as wings for our ships at sea.
I will tell you the most reliable sign, it will not deceive:
If another traveler who meets you says,
That on your shining shoulder you hold a winnowing shovel, -
Immediately stick your strong oar into the ground."
(Translated by V. Veresaev)

The rhythmic movements of the oars transformed the ship’s run across the water surface, where the azure of the sea and the sky merged into one, into the flight of a fabulous winged Pegasus. And centuries later, the creative imagination of poets, artists and sculptors of the great Hellas finally took shape in the myth of the winged Pegasus. Attaching the “winged sandals” meant boarding the ship. Perseus, Bellerophon, Hermes and other heroes of ancient myths gained wings... The winged horse Pegasus, stolen from the Phoenicians, became a model for the construction of Achaean ships. By modern standards, this was the theft of technological secrets in shipbuilding.

In the operation to capture Pegasus, Perseus's role was far from the main one. He is only one of the participants in this adventure, and after some time the “winged horse” appears in Corinth near Bellerophon. Apparently, those who ordered this special operation were there. The expedition was numerous. This fact is confirmed by Pausanias, speaking about Perseus and Medus: "... selected warriors followed Perseus from the Peloponnese - she was treacherously killed at night...". (Pausanias. Description of Hellas. Corinthica XXI, 6)

Red-figure dish: hippocampus. Hermitage Museum. Southern Italy, Apulia. 320-310 BC.

This is what the hippocampus might have looked like - the “sea horse” of the ancient Achaeans, also known as Pegasus.

smeared with the same world

Myrrh is an oily aromatic substance that the priest smears on the foreheads of parishioners during the church rite of anointing. About people who are united by a common trait (usually negative), they ironically say that they are smeared with the same world.

Olympian calm

Olympus is a mountain in Greece that was considered sacred in ancient times. The Greeks believed that gods, who were called Olympians, lived on it. They could be angry, and then they said: the Olympic thunders are heard. The gods dominated the world, feared no one and obeyed no one, always stood above everyday worries and therefore were marked by restraint, imperturbable, majestic calm.

The phraseological phrase “Olympic calm” is known in two meanings: this is what they say about government officials who are indifferent to human concerns; and also of indestructible majesty, inflexible calm and self-control.

Stuffed pea

For a long time, peasants, in order to scare away birds, placed scarecrows in the fields - figures of people made from criss-crossed rails and dressed in rags. In this way, the harvest of corn, sunflowers, and beans was protected. However, only the pea scarecrow took root in phraseological units. This is what they call a person dressed senselessly, funny, tastelessly.

Ride Pegasus

The phraseological unit has ancient origins. Pegasus is a magical winged horse. An ancient myth tells that Pegasus flew to Olympus, where he brought thunder and lightning to Zeus. In the 3rd millennium BC. e. Alexandrian poets created the legend of Pegasus as the horse of poets. Then the muses sang so well that all nature listened to them in a daze, and Mount Helikon, with delight, began to grow rapidly and reached the heavens. Then the Olympian gods ordered Pegasus to return the mountain back. The horse hit it with his hoof, trampling it into the ground, and at the site of the impact, the source of Hippocrene gurgled. Everyone who drank water from this amazing source suddenly began to speak in poetry. Since then, Pegasus has become the horse of the muses, and later of poets. The phraseological phrase “to ride Pegasus” means to become a poet.

The Last of the Mohicans

The Mohicans are a North American Indian tribe. The European colonialists, who sailed to explore the new continent, evicted them from their inhabited land in the territory of the modern states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, etc. The Indians, among them the Mohicans, waged a long, difficult struggle against the invaders. But the forces were unequal. American writer J.-F. Cooper (1789-1851) dedicated his novel “The Last of the Mohicans” to this event, in which he spoke about the difficult fate of the last representative of the glorious tribe. Thanks to the popularity of the novel, its name spread and acquired a generalized meaning.

The phraseological phrase “the last of the Mohicans” means the last representative of any group of people, clan, or nation.

That's where the dog is buried

There are many explanations for this phraseological unit. The ancient Greek writer Plutarch in one of his works spoke about dog fidelity. The dog, catching up with its owner, who was sailing on a ship, died from excessive fatigue and complete exhaustion. The grateful owner buried him on the island of Salamis. According to folk legends, the grave of the heroic dog was shown to everyone who was interested in this legend for many centuries.

Since then, the phraseology “that’s where the dog is buried” has been used in many languages to mean: that’s the main reason, that’s where the secret is.

Palm of the Championship

In ancient Greece, there was a custom to reward the winner in competitions with a palm branch - an attribute of the goddess of victory Nike. The ancient expression “palm” has become a symbol of superiority in something.

Panacea for all diseases

In ancient Greek mythology, Panacea is the goddess of healing, daughter of the god of healing Aesculapius. Medieval alchemists tried to find a universal medicine that would help against all diseases, which is why they named it after the healing goddess. Now the word “panacea” is used to describe a remedy not only for diseases, but also for all problems.