Athena with Pegasus coin pendant

Pegasus, the mythical, winged, divine horse, is regarded as a symbol of liberty, free spirit, inspiration, potential, and spiritual freedom.

His father was Poseidon, and he was born from the blood of the decapitated Medusa. Poseidon had slept with Medusa when she was a beautiful mortal, after which event Athena punished her for committing such an act in her very own temple....Pegasus carried the equine shape and the elemental power of water wherever he went - 'genetic traits' from his father Poseidon!

Bellerophon, King of Corinth, managed to capture Pegasus, tamed him with a golden bridle given by Athena, and with his help, killed the fire-breathing Chimaera, who was threatening to destroy the city. The hero overstepped the mark however, and in his hybris tried to fly Pegasus up to Olympos to join the gods. Zeus saw them approach and sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, who promptly reared, causing Bellerophon to fall down to earth, crippled and in disgrace.

The Corinthian connection to Pegasus is reflected in the city's coins, called 'pegasi', which show Pegasus on one side, helmeted Athena on the other. Pegasus also features on coins from Syracuse, the colony established in Sicily by Corinth.

Following the fall of Bellerophon, Pegasus continued his journey to Olympos and was welcomed into the immortal stables, marking his departure from the mortal world forever. He was given the prestigious job of carrying Zeus' thunderbolts and lightning from the forges of the giant Cyclopes (his half-siblings). Zeus eventually granted Pegasus immortality as a constellation, The Great Pegasus. It is one of the largest and most easily recognized, catalogued by Ptolemy the astronomer in the 2nd century CE, a geometric square composed of four bright stars that represent the main body of the winged horse.

Every time Pegasus' hoof touched the earth, a spring of fresh water appeared. The most famous one is the Hippocrene - 'horse spring' - on Mount Helicon, home of the Nine Muses. From then on, Pegasus became a symbol of the 'creative spark', and our expression 'to ride Pegasus' is used as a metaphor for an artist or writer who leaves behind the mundane earthbound reality to soar to the heights of artistic creation and genius. The sacred springs like Hippocrene were more than just physical water sources. They were places of spiritual purification and renewal, the awakening of hidden, life-giving subterranean forces.

Moving on from antiquity, the dual nature of Pegasus as a powerful, majestic, earthbound creature (the horse) with the freedom of flight (his wings) was a source of fascination for Renaissance artists and thinkers and modern psychologists, who see in Pegasus aspects which illuminate the study of our human nature. In Jung's work, for example, the archetype of Pegasus represents a process of transformation: where primal, earthly energies evolve into a higher spiritual and intellectual plane, and the ability of the mind to take emotion and to elevate it into art, philosophy, and higher consciousness.

Athena, daughter of Zeus, was the goddess of intelligence, wisdom, resourcefulness and strategic thought. She was also the protectress of women and of female crafts such as weaving.

Zeus discovered that Metis, the goddess of intelligence, was pregnant with his child. Fearing that the child would be superior to him, he turned Metis into a fly, and swallowed her. Nine months later, Zeus had a terrible migraine and summoned his son Hephaistos, who promptly took his double-axe, cut open Zeus' head, and out popped baby Athena. Zeus' brainchild. Fully formed in miniature, and armed for combat, with her helmet, shield, and spear. With her father, she later shared the aegis, the snake-fringed cloak with the image of the head of Medusa in its centre, after Athena had helped Jason to decapitate her.

Following a contest with her uncle, Poseidon, she became the patron goddess of Athens, to which she gave her name and the gift of the olive. Athena (also Athene) favoured the heroes Herakles, Jason, Achilles, Perseus and Odysseus, and was associated with Nike, the winged goddess of achievement and victory.

Her symbols are the owl and the olive.

It has been a privilege to work with the Vaphiadis family since 2007. They are one of the best manufacturers of sterling silver jewellery in Greece.

The collection is inspired by ancient Greek silver and gold coins, the art and jewellery of the Minoan civilisation, familiar symbolic motifs and images, and the animals that played a significant part in ancient Greek culture.

Due to the tragic, sudden death in early 2025 of Ioannis Vaphiadis, who made all this beautiful jewellery, the family's jewellery production has ceased.

This is all the remaining stock that I have. Ioannis was only in his late 50s, was such a lovely man and a dear friend.

I was so lucky to work closely with him for 19 years.If you already have a piece of his jewellery, cherish it.