Pegasus: From an Ancient Myth to the Archetype of Creative Flight Introduction: Anthropology of a Mythological Hybrid Pegasus (Ancient Greek: Πήγασος) is one of the most persistent and recurring images in world culture. Emerging in deep antiquity as a chthonic spirit of sources, 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 ascension, and overcoming boundaries. The analysis of the transformation of the Pegasus image allows us to trace how archaic perceptions of natural forces are transformed 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 initial connection of the entity with the aqueous element, not with the air. In the earliest mentions (for example, in Hesiod's «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 junction 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 Acrocorinth. This is a key moment: the winged horse appears as a demiurge, bringing forth sacred waters, which in ancient tradition were inextricably linked to the Muses and poetry. Thus, the connection with inspiration is inherent in its very nature, but mediated through the aqueous element. Classical Myth: Bellerophon and the Tragedy of Pride The flowering 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 wa ... Читать далее