#chrysaor

“The Birth of Pegasus and Chrysoar” (#7 in my “Quest for the Gorgon Head” series)

Part7 : But Perseus was not turned to stone by Medusas gaze, for he used his bronze shield as a mirror. Before Medusa could rise and attack, Athena guided Perseus sword-hand, decapitating the monster. From the bloody neck stump of Medusa, from Poseidon’s seed, two bizarre children were born; Pegasus the winged horse, and a son, Chrysaor. Not far off, the Gorgon sisters awoke in fury. There was little time. Perseus secured Medusa’s head into his Kibis, and fled into the night upon his winged sandals, while the screeching gorgon sisters sought the killer in vain.

Here we have another example of a strange, “higher birth” in Greek mythology. It brings to mind Athena’s birth, fully formed and armored, from Zeus’ cracked forehead.
        Pegasus is an important figure in Greek mythology. In some versions of the Perseus myth Pegasus is ridden away, while in others, Perseus flees the gorgon upon his winged sandals.  Pegasus appears in another hero myth, being tamed and ridden by the hero Bellerophon to kill the fire breathing beast; Chimera. Later, Bellerophon attempted to ride Pegasus to Olympus, but Zues caused him to fall. Pegasus continued on to Olympus, joining the King of gods as his thunderbolt bearer, and receiving a constellation in the horses honor.

Pegasus’ brother Chrysaor means “golden-blade.” Some variations tell of him as a giant, while others say he was a winged boar. Chrysoar went on to lay with an oceanid nymph to father a three bodied, four-winged Giant named Geryone. During Hercules quest to perform 12 tasks, his 10th task is to collect the cattle of Geryone. But… that’s a tale for another time.

Coming next…a certain sea serpent and princess in peril!

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