He tamed Pegasus: Who is Bellerophon?

It is believed that his real father is Poseidon.

Along with Cadmus and Perseus, he is one of the most important heroes of the pre-Heracles period. The etymology of the word Bellerophontes, which can also be resolved as Beast Slayer or Killer of Belleros, is controversial, and while the meaning of phontes (φόντης) "killer" is clear, theories have been put forward by various authors that Belleros could mean spear or be a Lycian demon or a Corinthian nobleman.

According to the legend, Bellerophon, who wanted to be a hero, slept on the altar of Athena one night with the advice of the seer Polyeidus. In his dream, he saw the goddess with a golden halter in her hand, and when he woke up, he saw that the halter was in her own hands. The heroic winged horse Pegasus, who visited the temples of Poseidon and Athena and offered an offering, found the golden halter and climbed onto his back, and succeeded in using it.

Hipponous was a divine Corinthian hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome, and the foster son of Glaukos. He was "the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles", among his greatest feats was killing the Chimera of the Iliad, a monster that Homer depicted with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail: "her breath came out in terrible blasts of burning flame."

When Bellerophon accidentally killed his own brother (Deliades or Peiren), he was exiled to King Proitos in Tirynis. When the hero was accused of trying to rape himself by the woman because he did not reciprocate the love of the queen Stheneboia (Antenia), Proitos, who did not want to kill his guest as per tradition, was sent to Iobates, the king of Lycia, with a letter that said kill whoever brought it in. Although Iobates read the sealed text, he did not tell Bellerophontes what was written, and asked the hero to kill the monster named Chimera, which ravaged his country beforehand; Then he sent them to fight their enemy neighbors Solymos and Amazons. Bellerophon has successfully completed all three missions.

When Iobates realized that he could not get rid of Bellerophon by giving dangerous missions, he commissioned a unit of Lydian mercenaries to ambush and kill the hero as a last resort. When the hero put his opponents to the sword, the king believed that the gods protected Bellerophon and that he was right, and not only showed the letter written to him but also married his daughter (Philonoe, Antikleia or Kassandra) and left the throne to his son-in-law. Stheneboea, on the other hand, took her own life when she learned that the hero she slandered married her sister, realizing that the evil she did would be revealed. Bellerophon and his wife had three children, Isander, Hippolokhus, and Laodameia.

With fairy tale narration

Once upon a time, a king named Glaukos lived on Greek land. This king's passion is horses, his stud is unique in the world, he often organizes horse races and challenges neighboring kings to rival his own horses. He is so smug about his horses that he does not mate his mares with stallions on the Feast of Aphrodite, moreover, he defiantly claims that he does it better with his grooms than the goddess. Finally, what he said goes to Aphrodite's ears, and the goddess goes mad with anger. Going before Zeus, he says that Glaukos fed his horses human flesh - which is a lie - and asks for his permission to punish him. “Glaucos' horses come first in all competitions, as they feed on human flesh,” says the goddess.

Hyponoos

This King Glaukos had a son named Hyponoos. Hyponoos is also very fond of horses, but he is neither interested in horse breeding nor in horse races. The dreamy lad spends all day daydreaming and dreams of himself as a hero like Perseus. His biggest dream is to one day ride the winged horse Pegasus, just like Perseus.

When Perseus struck Medusa's neck, the winged horse Pegasus was born from the spilled blood and flew away. The greatest desire of Hyponoos is to own and ride this horse.

Meanwhile, Aphrodite gets Zeus' permission to punish King Glaukos, "Okay, but how you do it is your own business," says God the Father. Aphrodite then plans for Glaukos to die at the hands of her own son. It transforms a cloud in the sky into the form of a winged horse. Noticing the cloud, Hyponoos immediately jumped up, grabbed his quiver and bow, tied a rope to the end of an arrow and aimed at the cloud. Of course, his intention is not to kill Pegasus, but only to capture it. The arrow that shoots out from the bow first whistles and rises to the sky then descends at the same speed and - under the direction of Aphrodite - plunges into the chest of the King's favorite groom, Belleros. Horses are also startled, they try to run away, and their feet get tangled. The rampaging horses attack and eat King Glaukos, who is running to appease them. Aphrodite gave this arrogant mortal the punishment he deserved.

When the crowd growing up from behind follows the rope at the end of the arrow stuck in the groom's chest, he sees Hyponoos at the other end. The poor boy is called Bellerophon from that day forward, meaning "the man who killed Belleros."

Bellerophon is forced to leave his father's palace because an arrow fired by him started the events leading up to the king's death. Thus, Bellerophon begins to wander from city to city and one day his way falls to the palace of Proitos, king of Argos. The king welcomes him. “You have an honest look in your eyes,” he says, “I trust you. Treat me like you're at home in my palace. I'm sure he won't do anything to hurt me."

However, after a while, Anthaia, the wife of Proitos, falls deeply in love with Bellerophon. He approaches the young hero with the compassion of a mother, and listens to his troubles, at least the young man thinks so. Bellerophon also tells him that his biggest dream is to one day have a winged horse Pegasus. Anthaia caresses him and responds, “You know, Bellerophon, I have the gift of prophecy and I can see what's going to happen. Last night, I dreamed that you would have Pegasus, and I know what you have to do for it."

“Tell me what to do!” shouts Bellerophon excitedly. “I will do anything to get this horse, the most precious treasure in the world.”

Anthaia continues, “Build an altar for Aphrodite. In the evening, lie down on the altar and wait for sleep to take over you. When he sleeps, Aphrodite will come to him. Whatever she asks of him, grant all his wishes. Then he will have Pegasus.”

Without a moment's hesitation, Bellerophon builds an altar for Aphrodite, and in the evening he lays down on the altar and falls asleep. He suddenly wakes up later in the night because he has noticed that someone has entered. When he opens his eyes, he sees that it is Anthaia, not Aphrodite.

Anthaia wishes to unite with him. "Come," he says to her, "that is Aphrodite's wish. Don't make the same mistake your father made. Aphrodite severely punishes those who disobey her orders.” Anthaia goes up to the altar and lies next to Bellerophon. But the lad quickly pushes him away from him, not wanting to betray the king's hospitality like this.

Her pride is hurt, Anthaia runs up to her husband and says to him, "You know that young punk you trust so much, Bellerophon, that night he tried to rape me!"

Proitos falls for his wife and wants to kill Bellerophon at first. However, the law forbids mistreating a guest, whatever his crime. Proitos also knows that if he does not obey the law, he will not be able to escape from the hands of the Erinyes, and he will definitely be punished.

He writes a letter for her and seals the envelope. Then he calls Bellerophon and gives him the envelope without mentioning what his wife has said, "My guest, Bellerophon, I ask a favor from you. Take this letter to my father-in-law, King of Lycia, Iobates.”

Bellerophon is delighted to be able to do a favor to the King to whom he is indebted. Of course, he is not one to open the letter and read what is written in it. However, the letter reads, “Dear Iobates, kill the man who brought you this letter! Kill him! He tried to rape your daughter."

At the Palace of King Iobates

Thus, at the end of a long journey, Bellerophon goes to Iobates' palace and delivers the letter. But Iobates does not open the letter right away, because as far as he knows his son-in-law is a very annoying person, he thinks, "It's no big deal anyway." He puts the letter aside to read later.

This sympathetic young man named Bellerophon caught his attention. “Sit down,” she tells him, “the letter is in no hurry.” She offers him wine to drink and says, "It's getting late, I'll open the letter tomorrow. He has an honest look in his eyes. I trust you. Treat me like you're at home in my palace. I am sure that he will not do anything to harm me” and gives Bellerophon a room.