EATHERED
CREATURES
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EATHERED
CREATURES
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Pegasus
is the white Greek horse which is said to have wings and the ability to
ascend into the sky. Legends say it was born from the blood of Medusa
after her head was cut off by Perseus. The shy horse could only be tamed
by the hero Bellerphoron. Pegasus is described as gentle and wise and
was said to have the natural ability to change evil into good. The feathers
which made up his huge wings were magical
objects lending great wisdom and insights into secrets to their
finders. Pegasus even has a star sign named
after him. The constellation can be seen near the equator in the northern
hemisphere.
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The
Legends Lives On, Picture provided by Whyte Myst
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Pegasus
Constellation Engraving
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The winged mystic creature lives on in many stories. Today Pegasus can be seen in films and on television as a symbol of new hope and purity. Pegasus is still seen as a reminder of the human ability to travel between the worlds of waking and dreams. Pegasus and his family also have an appearance in Disney´s animated masterpiece Fantasia. |
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Winged
Horses in Fantasia, Picture
form the Mystical Creatures Homepage
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Pegasus
fromthe Animated Sailormoon Series, Graphic provided by Nefdar
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Griffins, also called Griffons, are half-bird and half-mammal creatures who are said to be offsprings of lions and eagles. They possess great healing abilities and used to be hunted for their skins and feathers. The mythologies of Griffins can be found in nearly every culture of the world. The majestic creatures are said to guard the pathway to spiritual enlightenment. They only let truly advanced souls pass. Seeing or dreaming of a Griffin is said to be a sign of a new beginning or a change in life. |
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Alice
Window, Cheshire - England
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Griffins
in the Louvre
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Unlike
the famous Egyptian Sphinx, is the Greek Sphinx sprouting huge wings on
her back. Legend describes her as an aggressive creatures with a liking
for human flesh. She asked travelers wandering on the road to Thebes riddles
she had learned from the Muses. Those who could not give the correct answer
were eaten alive. Oedipus solved the riddle and legend has it that the
sphinx killed herself after hearing the correct answer. Femals as well
as winged Sphinxes pop up in histories all over the world.
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Sphinx
Relief Sculpture, Iran
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Sphinxes
in the Louvre
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This Gargoyle can be seen at the Chateau Cos d´ Estournel, France |
Gargoyles are stone creatures lurking from city roofs and inhabit the facades of cathedrals. They seem to have a life of their own and pull faces and grimaces at by-walkers. Gargoyles originally represented demonic spirits. Later they were mounted on a building to ward off other evil spirits. Others were incorporated into the constructions as stone gutters. Some creatures are also looking as if they would spit down rainwater while others are gnawing on human body parts. Unfortunately only rarely new buildings are equipped with Gargoyles anymore. |
Stone Creatures on the Roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris |
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Disney has used the charismatic creatures in the film "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and gave life to the stony beings who are normally condemned to sit still for their whole live. |
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Even a whole animated series can be seen on TV these days. Nearly all main characters are played by gargoyles. |
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A giant relief sculpture of a winged bull adorns a pillar of the Xerxes' Gateway, also known as the Door of Nations, in southwestern Iran. The winged bulls are intelligent creatures who have their own language and can even understand human language. The winged bull was also the symbol of the Assyrian Empire in Nineveh. Two of them guarded the entrance to the throne room of King Sargon II. They symbolized the protective spirit "lamassu". Winged bulls are composite being with human heads, the body and ears of a bull and the wings of a bird. When viewed from the side, the bull appears to be walking; when viewed from the front it seems to stand still. It thus has five, rather than four, legs. This can also be seen as a representation of the five elements the physical world is based on. |
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Winged
Bull in Xerxes Gateway
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Bull´s
Wing
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The
goddess Ba was considered one of the aspects of the soul by the Egyptians.
She is pictured in hieroglyphs and paintings as a human headed bir - the
essence of the personality of the dead. Ba was considered a composite
of body and soul.
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Egyptian
Ba Bird
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Ba
Birds, picture from the McClungmuseum, UK
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Picture from the Erubenbenabraham Webpage |
Winged
serpent spirits are also found in Egyptian. Sometimes they were even sprouting
two pair of wings. Like Ba they too signify the soul of the departed.
The Egyptians knew many winged snakes of varying temperaments. Some were
wise teachers while others were demonic beasts who could destroy the world
if not controlled.
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Hermes, the Greek messenger of Zeus and other Gods, is best known for his trademark - the wings on his helm called "petasus" (winged hat). It was also his job to escorted the dead to the Underworld. Hermes was the beloved son of Zeus and Maia (Maia was the daughter of Atlas). He was the Greek god of riches and good fortune and was friend to all mortals. Hermes also introduced weights and measures. A bust of Hermes was placed atop pillars to mark the boundaries. The god of good fortune invented the first alphabet as well as the first musical scale and the first lyre. His other attributes are the caduceus (a staff with two intertwined snakes) and his talaria (winged sandals) and of course the petasus. Only recently the winged messenger has made a guest appearance in Disney´s movie "Hercules". |
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Cupid (in Latin: Amor, in Greek: Eros) is the god of love and romance. Cupid is often represented as a winged boy with a silver bow and arrows. He was the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and was depicted as the son of Chaos - the force that created the universe. He is often thought of and pictured as blindfolded because love is said to be blind. Eros is said to have been a very naughty and extremely mischievous boy. Even a star constellation is dedicated to him and to his mother Aphrodite. The two Fishes represent the two gods. |
Constellation from the Dome of Sky Webpage |
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Touch
the feather to get back to the top
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Pegasus
Constellation Picture bought from Corbis.
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Sphinx
Relief Sculpture bought from Corbis.
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Gargoyle
Picture Chateau Cos d´ Estourne and Notre Dame bought from Corbis
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Winged
Bull Photographs bought at Corbis
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Cupid
Picture bought from Corbis
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Hermes
Picture bought from Corbis
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