# Pegasus vs. the Dragon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920 "2015-01-26T13:52:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/1 "2015-01-26T13:52:25Z")
Hallandale Beach Florida now has a 110 foot tall statue of a winged horse pummelling a dragon. It’s made of steel, and weighs 715 tons. The price tag is $30 million. It’s still under construction, but is close to finished the building underneath is supposed to be a theater (even though the Roadside America page claims it’ll be a planetarium). It’s been built and paid for by Canadian-Austrian businessman Frank Stronach, who also owns the racetrack it sits on. Frank says it’s supposed to represent the battle of _Good Against Evil_, but I strongly suspect it represents _Hey, Come to my Racetrack!_ > **[Hallandale Beach, FL - Huge Pegasus and Dragon](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/45876)** > > Visit reports, news, maps, directions and info on Huge Pegasus and Dragon in Hallandale Beach, Florida. > **[Buzz of the town: Pegasus comes to life in Hallandale](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2014/12/08/buzz-of-the-town-pegasus-comes-to-life-in-hallandale/)** > > It soars as high as an 11-story building, weighs a hefty 473 tons and cost millions. This ain’t your garden-variety yard gnome. Meet Pegasus, the winged stallion of Greek myth, all ready for … As a fan of Greek Myth (and particularly of this one, as you may know), this caught my eye. Just for the record, Pegasus isn’t the only winged, flying horse in Greek myth (there are also the ones pulling the chariot of Pelops, for instance. And, for some, the horses pulling the chariot of Helios), but he’s the best known. And there ain’t no myth of Pegasus fighting a dragon. Pegasus features in the myth of Perseus and Medusa and Cetus. But, despite both versions of _Clash of the Titans_ (where Cetus is called “Kraken”, I guess because it sounds cooler), there’s nothing about Pegasus fighting the Sea Monster (who is sometimes represented as dragon-like, although more often whale-like – hence the term “cetacean” – and, in d’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myth, as a meatloaf). In most ancient depictions, Perseus isn’t shown at this point on Pegasus at all, but being carried aloft by his winged sandals. It wouldn’t be proper for Pegasus to kill Cetus, anyway – by the weird geneaology of the creatures of Greek myth, Cetus is Pegasus’ grandmother (yes, Cetus is a girl monster). The only other monster Pegasus is associated with is the Chimaera. According to myth, Bellerophon rode on Pegasus while peppering the chimaera with darts, then killed the monster by shoving a lump of lead down its throat (which its fiery breath melted, killing it from within), Aside from carrying Bellerophon, Pegasus didn’t have much to do with it. And the Chimaera is described as a lion in front, a snake’s tail in back, and a goat in between. The movie _Wrath of the Titans_, the sequel to the second _Clash of the Titans_, shows Perseus fighting the Chimaera, which is made to look a lot more fearsome than in any depiction I’ve seen before. But, even though Perseus is still linked to Pegasus, the flying horse has nothing to do with this fight. So, no real myth of this fight, but it still looks cool. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/2 "2015-01-26T15:04:39Z")
Did the sculptor even see a horse? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/3 "2015-01-26T15:31:43Z")
Hey, it’s ART! It doesn’t HAVE to look like a horse. Have a look at Jacques LIpshitz’ _Birth of the Muses_ outside the MIT Hayden Library. It’s supposed to be Pegasus, too: > **[Birth of the Muses, 1944–50 | MIT List Visual Arts Center](https://listart.mit.edu/art-artists/birth-muses-1944-50)** > > Following his escape from France in 1941, Jacques Lipchitz turned to Jewish historical subjects. This is one of three works installed on MIT's campus. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/4 "2015-01-26T17:12:05Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Did the sculptor even see a horse? Well, it’s a flying horse, so you’d expect it to be massively muscular at the shoulders and have huge lungs. Still wouldn’t be able to fly, but if it could, that’s what you’d expect. Also, it would have bird-like hollow bones which is the ideal anatomy for dragon stomping. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/5 "2015-01-26T19:19:28Z")
Well it’s obvious why he is fighting the dragon. The damn thing came by and interrupted him while he was busy humping that dome. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/6 "2015-01-26T20:05:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Pegasus features in the myth of Perseus and Medusa and Cetus. Pegasus doesn’t really figure into the Perseus story; he wasn’t even born yet. Pegasus was born of the blood that spilled from Medusa’s neck after Perseus beheaded her (Medusa had been impregnated by Poseidon long beforehand). I don’t care what the movies show; Perseus flew around using Hermes’s talaria (winged sandals), not a horse. And yes, anything Medusa suffered at the hands or through the machinations of Athena, she had coming. That is what “Athena” means. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/7 "2015-01-26T20:22:35Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Pegasus doesn’t really figure into the Perseus story; he wasn’t even born yet. Pegasus was born of the blood that spilled from Medusa’s neck after Perseus beheaded her (Medusa had been impregnated by Poseidon long beforehand). I don’t care what the movies show; Perseus flew around using Hermes’s talaria (winged sandals), not a horse. > > And yes, anything Medusa suffered at the hands or through the machinations of Athena, she had coming. That is what “Athena” means. You’re quite right about Pegasus being born from Medusa’s neck – but that is part of the Perseus story, so they’re inextricably linked. There are several works of ancient Greek art – a pot, a cameo – that show Pegasus and Chrysaor, his brother, being born of Medusa’s neck. Nevertheless, people have been trying to work Pegsus back into the story as Perseus’ steed from Classical times on. There’s a Greek box that shows Perseus decapitating Medusa while on a horse (no wings as it exisdts, but they might be broken off). Ovid put Perseus on Pegasus’ back in one of his erotic poems (although not in the Metamorphoses). The very first opera, _Perseo_, has Perseus riding in on Pegasus’ back. In the original myth, by the way, Medusa was one of three monstrous sisters, not a once-=beautiful woman deflowered by Poseidon in a shrine to Athena who got cursed into a monster – that’s a later version. Athena did have something to do with her death, since she shephereded Perseus through his task, just as she helped Bellerophon and other heroes. I don’t think there’s any particular animosity to Medusa there. (And, besides, Hermes helped as well). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/8 "2015-01-26T20:31:15Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > You’re quite right about Pegasus being born from Medusa’s neck – but that is part of the Perseus story, so they’re inextricably linked. There are several works of ancient Greek art – a pot, a cameo – that show Pegasus and Chrysaor, his brother, being born of Medusa’s neck. > > Nevertheless, people have been trying to work Pegsus back into the story as Perseus’ steed from Classical times on. There’s a Greek box that shows Perseus decapitating Medusa while on a horse (no wings as it exisdts, but they might be broken off). Ovid put Perseus on Pegasus’ back in one of his erotic poems (although not in the Metamorphoses). The very first opera, _Perseo_, has Perseus riding in on Pegasus’ back. > > In the original myth, by the way, Medusa was one of three monstrous sisters, not a once-=beautiful woman deflowered by Poseidon in a shrine to Athena who got cursed into a monster – that’s a later version. Athena did have something to do with her death, since she shephereded Perseus through his task, just as she helped Bellerophon and other heroes. I don’t think there’s any particular animosity to Medusa there. (And, besides, Hermes helped as well). And Hades. Also, I’d say that Perseus is incidentally involved in Pegasus’s origins, rather than Pegasus being involved in Perseus’s story. About the art you are right. And originally there was just one Gorgon; the separation into three happened later, and before the involvement of Athena in the story. The point is that whatever happened, ATHENA WAS IN THE RIGHT. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/9 "2015-01-26T20:49:43Z")
Good versus Evil? Is Pegasus supposed to be evil? Because dragons aren’t evil, dragons are awesome! They are intelligent flying lizards that love and hoard gold and other shiny things and they can sometimes breathe fire! Pegasus is just a poncy horse with wings. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/10 "2015-01-26T20:49:58Z")
Hm, **Skald** telling **CalMeacham** about details of the Gorgon myth-- This should be interesting to watch. Incidentally, **Skald** , how are your grandmother’s egg-sucking skills? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/11 "2015-01-26T20:57:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Hm, **Skald** telling **CalMeacham** about details of the Gorgon myth-- This should be interesting to watch. > > Incidentally, **Skald** , how are your grandmother’s egg-sucking skills? [Cal and I have almost certainly had this fight before.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=621029) As before, I will cheat shamelessly and as necessary send **jayrey** back in time 72 hours with the spare Weather Dominator to afflict the NOrtheast with a massive blizzard, endangering thousands of lives for no other reason than to cut off Cal’s internet access tomorrow, 'cause I’m like that. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/12 "2015-01-26T21:17:24Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > [Cal and I have almost certainly had this fight before.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=621029) As before, I will cheat shamelessly and as necessary send **jayrey** back in time 72 hours with the spare Weather Dominator to afflict the NOrtheast with a massive blizzard, endangering thousands of lives for no other reason than to cut off Cal’s internet access tomorrow, 'cause I’m like that. Ah. Well played. And The Gorgons were triple from the start. My book gives a reason why. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/13 "2015-01-26T21:20:45Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Ah. > > Well played. > > And The Gorgons were triple from the start. My book gives a reason why. You can’t use _yourself_ as a cite. Who are you, Rush Limbaugh? Don’t make me send **jayrey** back with the Pyramid of Darkness too. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/14 "2015-01-26T22:00:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > But, despite both versions of _Clash of the Titans_ (where Cetus is called “Kraken”, I guess because it sounds cooler), there’s nothing about Pegasus fighting the Sea Monster (who is sometimes represented as dragon-like, although more often whale-like – hence the term “cetacean” – and, in d’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myth, as a meatloaf). 😃 This was great. I haven’t cracked my d’Aulaire’s in a long long time, but when I read this, that illustration immediately flashed to mind. When I next view it, I will no doubt think, “Meatloaf!” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/15 "2015-01-26T22:13:52Z")
I’m thinking of the fight: Kicking hooves vs. sharp claws, big teeth and FIRE! Think the betting line on this is pretty lopsided. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/16 "2015-01-26T23:03:08Z")
Yeah, I can see how, if the Chimera is imagined as a fire-breathing monster, then anyone not entirely well-versed in the relevant mythology might hastily jump to the conclusion that fire-breathing == dragon. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/17 "2015-01-26T23:19:55Z")
Just might be the Classiest Thing in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/18 "2015-01-27T01:32:47Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Good versus Evil? Is Pegasus supposed to be evil? Because dragons aren’t evil, dragons are awesome! They are intelligent flying lizards that love and hoard gold and other shiny things and they can sometimes breathe fire! Pegasus is just a poncy horse with wings. Oh no you di’int! ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/19 "2015-01-27T16:56:13Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You can’t use _yourself_ as a cite. Who are you, Rush Limbaugh? > > Don’t make me send **jayrey** back with the Pyramid of Darkness too. Come on, **CalMeacham** , keep citing yourself and poking the tiger that is **Skald**. He _never_ lets me play with the Pyramid of Darkness. This is my chance! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920/20 "2015-01-27T19:12:46Z")
I thought this was going to be another lion vs tiger thread. Carry on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegasus-vs-the-dragon/710920.md?page=2)