Parents: Poseidon and Eurynome

Story: Bellerophon was a brave hero whose greatest achievement was taming the winged horse Pegasus with a golden bridle given to him by Athena. Riding Pegasus, he was sent to slay the Chimera — a terrifying fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a serpent. From the sky, Bellerophon drove a lead-tipped spear into the Chimera's throat, and the monster's own fire melted the lead, choking it to death. However, Bellerophon's pride grew too great, and he tried to fly Pegasus to Mount Olympus to take his place among the gods. Zeus sent a gadfly to sting Pegasus, throwing Bellerophon back to earth where he spent the rest of his life as a lonely, crippled wanderer.

The Taming of Pegasus: Bellerophon dreamed of riding the winged horse Pegasus, who roamed wild and free. He spent the night in Athena's temple, and the goddess appeared to him in a dream, placing a golden bridle beside him. When he awoke, the bridle was real. Bellerophon found Pegasus drinking at a spring, approached calmly, and slipped the golden bridle over his head. The wild horse immediately became tame, and from that moment, Bellerophon and Pegasus were inseparable — soaring through the skies as the greatest mounted warrior the world had ever seen.

The Fall: After defeating the Chimera and winning many battles, Bellerophon's pride consumed him. He began to believe he deserved a place among the gods and rode Pegasus toward the peak of Mount Olympus. Zeus, insulted by this mortal's arrogance, sent a tiny gadfly to sting Pegasus. The horse bucked violently, and Bellerophon was thrown from the sky. He survived the fall but was crippled and blinded. He spent the rest of his life wandering alone, shunned by gods and men alike — a broken reminder that mortals should never try to become gods. Pegasus, however, completed the journey and was welcomed to Olympus.

Symbol: Golden bridle, Pegasus.

Represents: Heroic ambition, the danger of pride, and the rise and fall of mortals.