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.

The horse - Greek 'hippos' - was a symbol of wealth, status, military power, and divine majesty. Horses were integral to a thriving economy, and an essential part of victorious warfare. These high value and high maintenance luxury items, were pretty much restricted to ownership by the aristocracy and/or the wealthy.

Owning and entering chariot teams in the Panhellenic Games (such as the Olympic in Olympia, the Pythian in Delphi) and in the Panathenaic Games in Athens, brought great prestige to the owner. Achilles in the Iliad rode into battle with immortal horses (who could also speak) - Xanthos and Balios.

Poseidon, god of the sea, oceans, and earthquakes, created the horse from the crashing waves, connecting the animal's untamed, powerful spirit to elemental fury. The sun god Helios and the moon goddess Selene drove their horse-drawn chariots across the sky, anchoring the horse in the daily rhythm of the universe. Pegasus the winged horse, and son of Poseidon and Medusa, represents the ultimate bridge between the earthly realm and divine inspiration.

Figurines in bronze and terracotta have been found in abundance in ancient Greek religious sanctuaries, where they would have been sold to visitors to leave as offerings to the gods.

The gift of a horse sculpture is perfect for a lover of horses, whether or not he or she is called Philip or Philippa!

In modern psychological dream analysis, the horse generally represents primal energy, libido/life force, and the deep currents of the unconscious mind that propel us forward.

Made in Greece in the workshop of the Lioulias family, with whom It's All Greek is privileged and proud to have been working since 2004. They also produce It's All Greek's collection of pottery, Minoan frescoes, terracotta and other pieces.