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At the stamp of a hoof, Pegasos as his father, created water sources. One such glowed upon Mount Helikon, lighting the balmy sanctuary of his dear Muses who graciously shared their blessings with mortals. Helikon’s luminous water-flow named Hippokrene (the Horse Fountain), or sometimes called the Gorgon’s pool, bubbled supreme magic for those who drank of its waters, as did the Muses when seeking inspiration. Numerous visitors arrived, even goddess Aphrodite “of the glancing eyes” swept in by a rising moon. Aside toed Eros her son, plucking octaves upon a cithara. Aloft swirled her doves, a soft flurry of white.
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Athena herself revisited Helikon to ponder this wonder. Ovid’s Metamorphoses describes the event. |
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“To the Theban towers her journey took, she passed unheeded in her eager flight choosing Helikon to repose and there the virgin Muses brought strange tidings of a new-found spring”. Urania said: “You, Queen, are welcome, and we Muses blest. What Fame has announced of our spring is true, thanks for our spring to Pegasos are due”. Then, with becoming courtesy, she led the inquisitive guest to their fountain's head. Long surveying with wonder and delight, their sacred water charming to sight. |
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During her visit it may have occurred Athena invented the splendid flute, enchanting thus Euterpe, Muse of Music. As Aristotle recounts, she blew heartily. The more she tried, the more ill-sounding, but none dared say so. Suddenly she caught an image in a limpid basin. Lo! darkly trembled an awing reflection. Her own visage, but also a something of Medusa taunted. Athena’s blowing, cheeks bloating below bulging eyes caused haunting interplays of resemblance to ripple mockingly. Athena contemptuously discarded the instrument. Despite, mindful Euterpe stayed its flight, singling the flute for future Bacchic trances.
Every fifth year, pipers’ callings signalled Mouseia, a beacon festival Thebans established in devotion to the Muses. All poets and musicians were beckoned to partake in the events : music, satyr, tragedy and comedy. Pegasos probably attended recognizing his graceful Muses amongst statues in array gracing valley slopes along the way. Recording tablet in hand, Calliope may have presided. If in the follow of Euterpe, Pegasos probably listened attentively, lauding winners who dedicated their staves to sanctuary altars alike Hesiod when triumphant in Chalkis.
Troezen in Argolis, a city bitterly disputed between Athena and Poseidon witnessed Pegasos striking for a water source while Zeus muted the quarrel. Athena and Poseidon were to share the place equally, a judgement much amusing the Furies (the Erinnyes).
The horse similarly created other springs, prompting Delphi, Peirene, Corinth and Argos to glorify his name.  He no doubt appreciated the latter donating his image to his father‘s local temple. Pausianus described a lustrous wellspring siding an image of goddess Artemis where a source found passage through his hoof. Corinthian’s insisted the steed’s name claimed from the Pegae, water-priestess tending the city’s holy Pierian spring. As early as the 6th century B.C. this wealthy city of bronze, ivory and gold statues, struck staters fashioning her comely equine symbol with formal splendour. Their craftsmen often created curled wings, oriental style. Generous hoards of these would be discovered in Italy and Sicily...
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Hallowed Delphi witnessed Pegasos striking the earth to bestow the coiling Castalian spring. Ascending the Sacred Way, supplicants purified themselves therein. *10 Likewise temple priestesses ritually bathed in its waters before entering Delphi’s vaporous caves where solemn wisdom, meditation and prophesying awaited. |
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Proud of his equine progeny, Poseidon preened in shiny greens, boasting he had invented the horse, and even horse racing (Poseidon Hippios). Perhaps this prompted such fine paintings as Walter Crane’s: The Horses of Neptune (Poseidon’s Roman name). [see bibliography]. Athena equally proclaimed this right of fame (Athena Hippia). Squabbles opposing the two gods shamed Olympos.
Launching his trident, divine Poseidon fissured Thessaly’s mountains formerly choking this land which miraculously enriched from barrens to fine open grasslands, ripe for horse breeding. Pegasos probably wandered thereabouts, chased and chasing in turn wind-god Aiolos, while nonetheless observing the renowned cavalry and perhaps fleet fillies too. The horse was Thessaly’s preferred symbol . The area breathed casual times, far afield from regnal Greek city-states.
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