Akarnania. Argos Amphilochicon circa 350-250 BC.
Stater AR

24 mm, 8,06 g

Pegasos flying left with straight wings, A below / Head of Athena to left, wearing pearl necklace and Corinthian helmet, with leather neck guard, to right, behind head, ΔΙ and shield with strap.

Good Very Fine

Pegasi 16-18; SNG Copenhagen 311-312 var. (obverse monogram).

Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, was born from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa when she was beheaded by the hero Perseus. This divine creature symbolizes both beauty and power. Pegasus’s most famous tale involves the hero Bellerophon, who sought to tame him to defeat the monstrous Chimera. With the help of the goddess Athena, who gifted Bellerophon a golden bridle, Pegasus was tamed and became his loyal steed. Together, they flew above the Chimera, allowing Bellerophon to defeat the beast from the air. However, when Bellerophon attempted to ride Pegasus to Mount Olympus, Zeus intervened, sending a gadfly to sting Pegasus, causing Bellerophon to fall to his demise. Pegasus, however, reached Olympus and was honored by Zeus, who placed him among the stars as a constellation, symbolizing the union of heroic endeavor and divine favor.