Comparison Of Pegasus And Bucephalus

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While many great men are remembered throughout history, very seldom do we encounter an animal worthy of remembrance. Of the few mentioned, Pegasus and Bucephalus are prominent figures of ideal steeds claimed only by those worthy enough, such as Bellerophon and Alexander the Great. What makes them and their riders distinguishing? How did they become known throughout the world? What makes their legacy endure? And what do they have in common? The myth of Bellerophon, and the legend of Alexander the Great, must be analyzed in an attempt to sum up the weight of these questions. At first glance, these very different stories seem to lack any similarities at all. But in comparison, numerous connections arise—with each other, and with other tales, myths, …show more content…
In classic Greek and Roman mythology, Pegasus is born from the blood of Medusa. Prior to her death at the hand of Perseus, Medusa was the most beautiful woman on Earth. Poseidon was filled with lust for Medusa and he seduced her in the form of a horse. They made love in the temple of Athena. Enraged at having her temple defiled, Athena turned Medusa into a hideous creature with hair of snakes and a gaze that would turn any man or creature to stone. Perseus hunted down Medusa where she had found refuge among the Gorgons. “With one blow, the great hero struck off Medusa 's monstrous head and the blood sinking into the earth produced the magnificent winged horse, Pegasus” (Elysium …show more content…
For the clarity of examination, a myth is purely symbolic. It was representative of the beliefs held about certain phenomena with no basis in fact or reference to time. Legends; however, do have historical evidence and are usually within a set period of time or date. Some of the values I feel that ancient Greeks saw in Bellerophon were linked closely with what Alexander the Great had accomplished in his reign. The first remarkable similarity presents itself in simple geographic location. Alexander the Great was born in Macedonia, a region of Greece in 356 BCE, the birthplace of much of ancient Greek mythology. Undoubtedly, Alexander was told mythical stories of the Gods and Demigods, including Bellerophon and Pegasus, as a child growing up. I would even make the claim that he had envisioned himself following in the footsteps of great mythical warriors such as Hercules and, his favorite hero, Achilles. “He called himself the son of Zeus, and so claimed the status of a demi-god, linking his blood-line to his two favorite heroes of antiquity, Achilles and Herakles, and modeling his behavior after theirs” (Mark). Alexander wasn’t merely set up for greatness; he became greatness through his willpower and a strong desire to be remembered. In much the same way, Bellerophon desired to be remembered, but in order to do so he tried to become a god. Although he failed in this attempt, he is still

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