Pegasus: From an Archaic Myth to the Archetype of Creative Flight Introduction: Anthropology of the Mythological Hybrid Pegasus (Ancient Greek: Πήγασος) is one of the most enduring and recurrent images in world culture. Emerging in ancient times as a chthonic spirit of springs, it has undergone a unique evolution: from a secondary character in the myth of Perseus and Bellerophon to an independent symbol of poetic inspiration, spiritual ascent, and overcoming boundaries. The analysis of the transformation of the Pegasus image allows us to trace how archaic conceptions of natural forces are processed into complex cultural codes relevant to modern consciousness. Genesis and Archaic Roots: Horse and Water Etimology and primary sources: The name «Πήγασος» is traditionally associated with the Greek «πηγή» (pēgē) — «source, spring». This indicates the original connection of the entity with the aquatic element, not the air. In the earliest mentions (for example, by Hesiod in "Theogony"), Pegasus and his brother Chrysaor are born from the blood of the decapitated Medusa Gorgon, which fell to the ground by the sea. His birth from the body of a creature that turns to stone marks him as a marginal being, emerging at the intersection of death and life, horror and wonder. Function in archaic myth: The first act of Pegasus is to strike the ground with his hoof to bring forth the spring of Hippocrene on Mount Helicon or, according to another version, the spring of Pirene on Akrokorinth. This is a key moment: the winged horse appears as a demiurge, generating sacred waters that were inseparably connected with the Muses and poetry in the ancient tradition. Thus, the connection with inspiration is inherent in his very nature, but mediated through the aquatic element. Classical Myth: Bellerophon and the Tragedy of Pride The rise of the image is associated with the cycle of myths about the Corinthian hero Bellerophon. At the command of the seer, the hero captures Pegasus at a watering h ... Read more