Creature Chats

Episode 1: Pegasus

• Cameron • Episode 1

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Learn all about the Pegasus and other winged horses as Maisie and Mom talk through the surprising history of winged horses and all the places they pop up!

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In shadows, deep and starlit skies where ancient whispers never die. We walk the path where legends tread, and summon the world once.

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Welcome to Creature Chats, where myth and magic come to life through the eyes of a mother, me, and a daughter. I'm Maisie. And I'm Jana. Each week I'll introduce Maisie to a mythical creature, explore its origins, stories, and secrets.

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And I'll share my thoughts, ask weird questions, and maybe even challenge the mist.

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So cozy in and join us for a journey into the enchanted forest, misty mountains, and mysterious waters of folklore and the creatures that reside there. So, Maisie, this is our first episode. How are you feeling about it? I'm feeling good because, well, I kind of like Pegasus. Well, that's what we're doing today, but what about all the other creatures that we're gonna talk about?

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Well, I just own like imaginary island that my mom does for me at night. So yeah. I kinda I r I really like mythical creatures.

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Yeah. So every night or every night we do bedtime, I we talk about Imagination Island, and Maisie takes a journey there. And that's kind of how this all started with mythical creatures.

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On a Pegasus named uh Peggy. She was like, I think the first imaginary friend I ever had. I think so too.

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Yeah. So today, for our very first episode, it's very obvious what we're doing, and we are gonna be talking about Pegasus. Pegasus or Pegasi. And what I learned, Maisie, is that there are several different winged horses that are in tons of different cultures and beliefs and all of that.

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Well, one thing that is actually very true.

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Yeah. Um, okay, so did you know that a horse with a wings of a bird is actually described as a terapist? No, but I just learned a new thing. There you go. Pegasus is actually originated in Greek mythology. I do know that. Yes. What else do you know?

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Well, I know that Pegasus' are really cool winged horses, and they are created because of the Greek gods. So I believe Hercules? I'll I'll let you know. Yeah, so he had if you haven't watched the movie, yes, Hercules. Hercules had a Pegasus, and as you see, he is a Greek god, so yeah, that's I know.

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Yeah, so there is a Pegasus in the movie Hercules. And but we also will know Pegasus from different things. Um, there's a Pegasus airline in Turkey. Magnolia Petro has Pegasus as their emblem, so you might see some signs. Tri-star pictures, which we're familiar with, you know, the big winged horse at the beginning of some of the movies. Have you seen those?

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Yes, and I know I believe that a flag has a Pegasus on it. Yeah, you're right. We will get to that.

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You got some good knowledge on you.

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Uh, thank you.

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Okay, so we're gonna start off with the Greek mythology. Okay, and what it is is that Pegasus was fathered by Poseidon, who is the god of the sea and of horses.

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And I believe Ursula, wait, no, not Ursula. Medusa, that is Medusa's child, I believe.

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You're right, yeah. So Medusa, um, so Pegasus actually was born when they cut Medusa's head off. Yes.

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And she and then a peg, and then like a winged horse came out when Hercules, right? Nope, no Hercules.

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But you're right. Keep going. Yeah, keep telling me. When they it was just born out of her neck, is what the pictures depict. That's kind of creepy. It is creepy because legend says that Pegasus was a full-size horse when it happened.

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Yeah, but one thing, I thought babies come from the butt.

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No. Okay, so Pegasus was fathered by Poseidon, who is the god of the sea and of horses, and he was born after Medusa's head was cut off and blood came out, and he was his head was cut off by Perseus. Oh and he actually was born a twin, and his brother was human, but Pegasus was a fully grown horse, allegedly, when he came out of Medusa's head.

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Well, one thing, I have a question. Did the so Medusa, if she had a whole Pegasus inside her, she should have had a head, she should have wings thrown out of her back. Oh, that's a fun fact. Medusa did have wings.

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Oh, yeah.

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But she did she have a horse head? No, but remember, Poseidon is the god of horses.

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Oh. I thought Poseidon was the god of the sea.

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He is. He's a both. I learned that from the Little Mermaid. Yep. Okay, so let me tell you some of the things that Pegasus is known for in Greek mythology. He was used after he was born to go on some missions and fly around, and his rider was attempting to fly up to Mount Olympus, and Zeus both struck them down. Zeus is so how dare he.

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Well, it is now. Um well it's mythology according to Maisie. Yeah, yeah, our new podcast.

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No, okay. So when Pegasus went up to Mount Olympus with Zeus, he actually worked for Zeus carrying his lightning bolts. Zeus, why'd you slave a Pegasus? Well, I think Pegasus, it was like an honor because he was serving Zeus. How is that an honor? That's a big deal to carry Zeus's lightning bolts. It's kind of rude, but okay. That's his big thing. I know that. Okay. Either way, when Pegasus had died, he was rewarded with a permanent place in the heavens, allegedly in the sky, and has a constellation.

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Oh, yes, it that actually, so they do have a constellation of a Pegasus.

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Yeah. There's a constellation that you that us in the northern hemisphere can actually see really well in the fall sky.

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True.

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Yeah.

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But the hard, but the easiest, but the easiest um, what is it called again?

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What? Constellation? Yeah.

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The easiest constellations probably is to see the big dipper.

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Yeah. So fun fact. And then I believe if you follow that, then you'll find the Pegasus in the sky. But we might need our fact-checker to fact-checker to double check that. Yeah, fact checker. Okay, let me tell you about some of the legends. So this is a legend that came from Pegasus in Greek mythology, is that anywhere a winged horse hoofed down or touched down on earth, a spring of water came from the ground. That is fake. No, that's in the mythology. Well, mythology is wrong. Well, that's why it's mythology.

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I know, but you said legends and legends are legends are sometimes not true. Okay. So I don't think that is true. No. Because when in Harry Potter, when those Pegasus touch the ground. There is no Pegasus in Harry Potter.

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Those are thus trels.

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We're saying they're we're saying I guess technically they're a winged horse. Yeah, so and but when they touch the ground, nothing came up.

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Okay. But it also nobody can see them. But they're still winged horse, so you're not wrong. Just not a pegasus.

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Wait, but I thought the people in Harry Potter, no, like when in the Gauntlet of Fire, when they were flying, those were not Frestrals, those are Pegasus's. No, I think those were thrust. No, those are Pegasus'.

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She's talking about the boat being. I know what she's talking about. Yeah, those were Pegasus's. Really? Yeah. The French ladies.

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I don't, I don't. Do we have our myth test?

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Well, so fact checker coming in. Hi. Uh that is my friend. Pegasus constellation is nowhere near the Big Dipper. You actually have to go Big Dipper to the North Star to Cassiopedia, which will then eventually get you to the great spare great square of Pegasus. Okay.

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And now can we can I we need a fact checker? We need you again. Also, just letting you know the fact checker is my dad.

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Hi.

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Okay, while he's looking up, can I tell you other things that Pegasus was used for? Yes. Okay. In World War II, the Pegasus symbol was used as an emblem for a new parachute troop in the United Kingdom. That is true. And their insignia was a Pegasus with a rider, and they wore it on their upper sleeve so they would know what company they came from. Oh. And you know what their what I believe the current company name is? What? P Company. Oh, but I but I th but that should be um well P for what? Pegasus is that's cool though. True. Okay, and then in Tuscany, do you know where Tuscany is at? In Italy.

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I was just thinking that. Wow. I was literally just thinking Italy.

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Okay. Tuscany has had it in their culture or in their city since 1537. So, and the first thing That's as old as my dad. That's like much older than dad. And that's how you roast your dad. Uh-huh. They incorporated it as a coin the very first time in 1537. And then later the Tuscan flag and the coat of arms um still use as a pegasus. They still do. They still have it on their on all their emblems and flag and stuff. So if you look up the Tuscan flag, there's a pegasus on it.

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I'm looking up, but I don't see a flag, or I'm I'm I'm looking up, but I don't see a Tuscan or a flag. I don't see anything. I just see soundproof stuff.

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A lot of soundproof stuff. Okay, well, that's probably good for this. So the other part, the one that I was surprised to hear about, was all the other different cultures that also have winged horses in their mythology.

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Yeah, did you know, like over, I believe, 20?

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No, I did not write down that many.

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Oh, over about like 10.

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I have um, I think I have four. Well, there is so much more. I didn't find those in my research. Well, one thing.

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I'm not good with legs. So, well, that could have been right. It could have been wrong.

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So just trust me on this. Okay. Okay. So the first one I came across was actually um in that Hindu text featured a white horse that was winged named Devdada. Devdata? Devdada. Devdada. And it was a horse of Kelki. And that was given to Lord Shiva. Oh, I know who Shiva is. Shiva. Yeah. And in Hindu culture, they are known for their speed, their freedom, and their divine grace. Ooh, one minute.

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Can we check in on our fact checker to see what the thing is?

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Yeah. I was kind of wondering because so it's a blue carriage with the bow batons.

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Yeah, bow baton.

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It's bow batten?

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Yeah.

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Oh. Yeah. We're we're both not great at pronouncing things, I guess. Um they don't have pegasuses, but they do have a Braxton winged horses, which are a distinct breed of winged horse conflated with the mythological pegasus.

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I told you so. So it's a winged horse again. Yep.

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It's a winged horse, but not a thestral, but not technically a pegasus.

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Mm-hmm.

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Because, of course not.

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Right. Because that would be too cool.

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That would be.

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Okay. So then I'm gonna tell you in the Chin in the Chinese mythology, there is also another winged horse. Aww. And this winged horse was said to have traveled, to have been able to travel for hundreds of miles a day. I think a plant can do that. Um, it's called a longma, which is called a dragon horse. And it is this is a different type that is also depicted as a dragon horse, hence the name, um, that were colorful, that had colorful scales and walked on water. Walked on water. Okay. And then the another one was from Tibet or Tibetan mythology, and this was called a lunta. Alunta. Lungta. Lunta. Yes. And that is said to have carried prayers from humans to the heavens and known for having a large gem on its back, which represents the buoyancy of life and goodness of the human spirit.

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So it's kind of like a How can that thing carry that big of a thing?

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Well, it's a Pegasus.

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Did it like it have it like stuck in its back or like I don't know. It just said it it was a gem on its back. Did it carry it like a troll? Did it carry it in a backpack with eyes like Dora? No, it was on its back.

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I don't know why I'm laughing like that. Okay, I'm gonna keep going. Okay. Okay. Um, in Iran, winged horses were used to carry souls and were manifestations of their gods, which is often pictured as one leg raised and is often used on the backs of coins and seals. Like seals, as in like government seals, not like the animal. Oh, oh, oh, oh, government seals. Yeah, like stamps. Are those like navies? No, no, like stamps, like your like it's an official letter. It's sealed. I th oh sealed for your protection.

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Oh, yeah. I th I th I heard navy seal.

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No, no.

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I heard navy seal.

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Okay. Then the last one I learned about was it's called an Ethiopian Pegasus. And this was inspired by the Greek Pegasus and said to be native of Ethiopia, and it has large wings, a reddish coat, and a large horn. I think that's called a pegasi. Pegasi is plural for all pegasus. Plural. Plural. Plural. Yeah. So I thought that was cool because it has um a red coat, just like we have red hair. Yeah. And it's got a large horn, like a unicorn.

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As you as you see, we have red hair on our title. I don't brush my hair that much. That can you edit that out?

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No.

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How dare you?

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Nina's got to hear this. Okay, but did you so where I know you get frustrated a lot is you see a lot of pegasus or pegasi with horns on their head, which isn't always accurate. Yep. And that is what has been really hard to find is like it's hard to find a pegasus without a horn. Because a lot of people like to draw unicorns with wings. So technically, it is a winged horse. Okay, don't be. But really, if they wanted to get it correct, if they are drawing a winged horse with a horn, then it should be have a red coat. Oh. That would be proper. Oh, like the color of her hair. Like the exact color. I I don't know, but it just says to have a reddish coat. Oh, interesting. So that is what I found. That's what I found out on my research. What do you think about that? Half of that, like a quarter of that, is not correct.

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What do you mean? The the un the unicorn part. The the where they where they had the horns, the unicorn part. Okay, but that's correct for Ethiopian culture. True. And if there's any Ethiopians out there, the culture stuff.

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So uh. Either way, I think there there's a lot more winged horses than I expected to find out about. Same. Yeah, because you and I only really talk about Pegasus. Yeah.

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Fun fact. The Ethiopian Pegasus wasn't from Ethiopian culture. It's from Greek. No, it's from uh medieval beasties, where Pliny the Elder, which he he wrote a bunch of weird books. Don't worry about him. Decided that there were the red furred two-horned no, this one isn't doesn't even have two horns.

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Let me see.

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I'm reading the Wikipedia article.

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Can I see two? Yeah.

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So I should probably cite my sources better.

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Can I see?

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Yeah. See, it's that drawing. I don't know.

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It kind of looks like a sphinx. It kind of looks like a with the Yeah, it looks like a Sphinx. Okay, well, cool.

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Thanks, Dad. Yeah. That's what I write in my books. Yeah.

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And in my sources. And she's Wikipedia. Every single she did Google.

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I have actual books. She has actual books. Sorry. No, no, no. But okay, so here's there was like some like disgruntle with the research, I guess, and that it can look, it is can it looks differently than what some people describe it. But in part of the culture, how some people describe it is as large wings, a reddish coat, and a large horn. Like a large horn? A large horn. Yeah. Like as big as hell. And a large individual horn. That's it. Specifically said individual horn. Okay. So that is what we got, Maze. What do you think?

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I like it. I feel like this fur pod this first podcast went pretty good. Yeah, I think so too.

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We messed up a bunch. Yeah, but that's the the joy of editing.

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Thanks.

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She messed up more than me. That's true.

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I didn't mess up once.

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Well, that's because you're spitting it out.

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You're the one of two of us that doesn't have any mus, that doesn't have any like academer stuff.

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Why are we talking about this? I don't know. We went to a different subject. We did. Okay. So in the next one, what we're gonna do is you're not gonna know what the creature is. Oh my goodness. It'll be a surprise. Oh my goodness. So this first time was a little special because we had to go with the Pegasus, because that's just that's our mythical creature. Yeah. Yeah.

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Yeah. If if it was a real animal, that would personally be my favorite in.

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Yeah, probably. Okay, so our next podcast is gonna be surprise because I get to pick the creature and you get to give us your live reaction to it. For being on live? You get we get to record the live reaction that you have. Okay, okay. All right. So that is that is our first episode of Creature Chats with Maisie and Mom. And we will we will uh talk to you guys next time. Bye. Bye. Thanks for listening.

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Thank you.

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In shadows, deep in starlit skies where ancient oases never die. We walk the path where legends tread, and summon the world once.