While the horse remains one of the most popular animal tattoo designs, the winged horse Pegasus stands out as a particular favorite with equine tattoo enthusiasts. Not enough for some people the beauty, grace and speed of the ordinary horse, they must add wings and magic and stories of Gods to the tattoo - we speak of course of Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology. The birth of this mythical winged steed went something like this -- the Greek hero, Perseus, son of Zeus, slew the fearful Medusa with his magical sword, and from the blood gushing from her neck emerged the wild and magnificent Pegasus. Poseidon (Neptune), god of the Ocean, was Pegasus' father.
It was Pegasus who carried Perseus to rescue Princess Andromeda when she was chained to the dragon-guarded rock. Hero and Princess married, and together with Pegasus they became a constellation of stars twinkling in the heavens. As it says in the 5th century B.C. Greek lyric -- "Pegasus dwells in the ancient stalls of Zeus upon Olympus."
As a tattoo symbol, Pegasus represents much of what a Horse does, loyalty, stamina, endurance and speed, but with the added dimensions normally associated with Wings and Birds -freedom, and a soaring spirit, mind and heart. Pegasus speaks to the poet in us, of the magical and mystical and the divine world of Gods among the clouds and Mount Olympus. Pegasus will carry us to new heights of imagination, inspiration and aspiration.
See Also: Greek tattoos, Unicorns
