Myth
Pegasus, the winged horse, was said to be born from the “wise blood” of the Moon-Goddess Medusa. There was an earlier Pegasus as well named Aganipe, “the Mare Who destroys mercifully.”
The myth goes on to recall the myth of Bellerophon. He mounted Pegasus and attempted to ride to heaven “as though he was an immortal being”. He failed and fell to the earth. His father had failed in his attempted flight and was devoured by man-eating mares.
This did not mean, however, that human flesh became a part of the equine diet. Rather it meant that the king had been torn to pieces by women disguised as horses at the close of his reign.
Pegasus represented divine inspiration and god-like apotheosis. It was rumored that whoever rode him could become a great poet. The rider of Pegasus could figuratively ride through the air to reach heaven.