In Greek mythology , a winged horse.
It sprang from the blood of Medusa as she was beheaded by Perseus . Bellerophon captured Pegasus and rode him in several of his exploits, including his fight with the Chimera , but when he tried to ride the winged horse to heaven he was unseated and killed, and Pegasus was placed in the sky as a constellation. The flight of Pegasus is often regarded as a symbol of poetic inspiration.