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Pegasus Facts & Worksheets

Pegasus is a divine winged horse usually depicted to be pure white in color. He is one of the most recognized Greek mythical creatures.

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Pegasus is a divine winged horse usually depicted to be pure white in color. He is one of the most recognized Greek mythical creatures.

See the fact file below for more information on the Pegasus or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Pegasus worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BIRTH

  • The story of the birth of Pegasus has multiple versions.
  • In one version, it is said that Pegasus and his brother Chrysaor were born from the blood that oozed out of Medusa’s neck when the hero Perseus beheaded her.
  • Another tale of their birth says that the brothers sprang from the earth where the blood of the Gorgon was spilled after her beheading.
  • It is also believed that the father of Pegasus and his brother was Poseidon.

ETYMOLOGY

  • According to Hesiod, the name Pegasus originated from pēgē, which means “spring” or “well”. Hesiod writes about Pegasus appearing near the pêgai (sources of Oceanus).
  • Another possible etymology for the name is pihassas, meaning “lightning” in the ancient language of Luwian.
  • The promoters of this etymology cite the role of Pegasus as Zeus’ bringer of his thunderbolts to be the reason for this theory.
  • Michael Brown concluded from his studies of ancient and medieval Greek poetry that the word Pegasus is a pre-Celtic-PIE word that didn’t develop into the common names of both Western and Greek languages.

MYTHOLOGY

  • Pegasus is said to be an immortal, pure white horse.
  • The most famous story involving Pegasus is the one where he was tamed by the hero, Bellerophon.
  • Polyeidos, a seer, told Bellerophon that he needed Pegasus in order to succeed in his mission of defeating the Chimera. The seer told him to sleep in Athena’s temple.
  • The hero dreamt of Athena setting a magical golden bridle beside him and telling him to take the bridle and show it to Poseidon along with a white bull sacrifice. When he woke up, he found the bridle beside him.
  • The hero used the bridle to capture Pegasus while the stallion was drinking from the Pierian spring.
  • Bellerophon rode Pegasus to Lycia to slay the Chimera.
  • Pegasus went on more adventures with Bellerophon, including defeating the Solymi and the Amazons.
  • As Bellerophon’s fame grew, he also became arrogant. He took Pegasus to fly to Mount Olympus.
  • Zeus was angered by this and sent a gadfly that stung Pegasus, throwing Bellerophon off his back and to the ground.
  • Pegasus continued his ascent to Olympus, where he was stabled by Zeus to become one of the steeds carrying the god’s thunderbolts.
  • For his faithful service to the god, Pegasus was later transformed into a constellation.
  • On the day of his transformation into a constellation, a lone feather fell near the city of Tarsus.
  • In Biographie universelle, which was written by Michaud, he states that after birth, Pegasus flew to the place where lightning and thunder are released.
  • According to other versions of the myth, Pegasus was tamed by Athena herself, and she gave the steed to Perseus.
  • Perseus rode Pegasus to Ethiopia to aid Andromeda.

LEGACY

  • It is common for Pegasus to appear in British heraldry, sometimes appearing as a crest or a supporter.
  • Pegasus also sometimes appears upon escutcheons.
  • The arms of the Inner Temple feature a Pegasus rampant, while the Richardson family arms depict a Pegasus sejant.
  • During World War II, the newly founded parachute troops of the United Kingdom adopted the silhouette image of Bellerophon and Pegasus as their upper sleeve insignia.
  • The insignia symbolizes a fighter arriving by air.
  • According to a source, the insignia was created by Daphne du Maurier. She was a famous novelist and the wife of General Frederick Browning, the commander of the 1st Airborne Division. commander
  • However, according to the website of the British Army, the said insignia was designed in May of 1942 by painter Major Edward Seago.
  • The Parachute Regiment of the British Army now calls the selection process for their members the Pegasus Company.
  • After not being used for 15 years, it was announced in 2015 that the Pegasus insignia would be used again by the units of the 16th Air Assault Brigade.
  • On the night of June 5, 1944, the British 6th Airborne Division successfully captured the bridge over the Caen Canal in preparation for the seaborne assault.
  • The bridge was later renamed Pegasus Bridge to commemorate this capture.
  • During the German occupation of Italy, the National Liberation Committee of Tuscany used Pegasus as their emblem.
  • The flag and coat of arms of Tuscany still feature Pegasus.

Pegasus Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Pegasus across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Pegasus worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Pegasus who is a divine winged horse usually depicted to be pure white in color. He is one of the most recognized Greek mythical creatures.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Pegasus Facts
  • Blood Brothers
  • Father from the Sea
  • Captivating Horse
  • Sky Horse
  • Artsy Steed
  • Divine Adventure
  • Pegasus’ Signal
  • Mighty Horses
  • Steedy Legacy
  • Relative to Pegasus

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Link will appear as Pegasus Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 29, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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