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Where did the name Pegasus come from? When the program was conceived in 1984 there was discussion about what to call it. A contest was held where medical center staff were encouraged to submit their suggestions for a name, Pegasus was chosen from among those entries. The reason for this is based on the legend surrounding the winged horse. While the tale varies depending on which account you read, the following seems to be a common thread through most: Pegasus was the son of Poseidon and Medusa, having sprung from the blood of Medusa as it dropped into the sea after her head was severed by Perseus. Pegasus appears again and again throughout mythology. He was captured by Bellerophon at the water of his fountain and was ridden by him when he killed Chimera. Pegasus became the thundering horse of Zeus which is why he appears among the stars. Pegasus was a wild and winged steed who was ultimately tamed by Bellerophon by using a golden bridle he received in a dream from Athena. Bellerophon showed disrespect to the Gods as he attempted to ride Pegasus to Mount Olympus and Zeus sent an insect to sting Pegasus and Bellerophon was thrown back. Pegasus found sanctuary on the sacred mountain, where he carried Zeus' thunderbolts and was ridden by Eos, the goddess of dawn. Pegasus became a popular subject for artists, since from under his feet sprang the sacred springs of the Muses (goddesses of inspiration) on Mount Helicon. So what does all this have to do with a MedEvac helicopter? Pegasus was chosen because it was different from most of the other program names which seemed to revolve around the Life Flight theme. It was also chosen because of the stories of Pegasus carrying wounded soldiers from battles and other life saving stories. While our program has undergone many changes and several different aircraft since its inception, the winged steed adorning the side of the helicopter has remained constant. For more information on Greek Mythology, please see the attached link. |