Pegasus

greek: Πήγασος (Pḗgasos) · latin: Pegasus · egyptian: 3xwj — 'the Two Spirits' (Belmonte-Lull identification with area of Pegasus/Sculptor/Pisces)

Definition

A large northern constellation between Andromeda and Aquarius, conventionally identified in Greek-mythological reception with the winged horse Pegasus. The constellation contains the Great Square — a near-square asterism formed by Alpha Pegasi (Markab), Beta Pegasi (Scheat), Gamma Pegasi (Algenib), and Alpha Andromedae (Alpheratz, shared with Andromeda). In astrological reception Pegasus is read through Hellenistic-Hermetic paranatellonta across Aries and Pisces and through Egyptian-syncretic boreal-area identification.

In Tradition

Across the Hellenistic-Hermetic per-degree tradition (Liber Hermetis) and the Egyptian-syncretic constellation-area tradition (Belmonte-Lull), Pegasus is named through Great-Square stellar positions and through paranatellonta co-rising with late Aries and Pisces degrees. The constellation has no canonical zodiacal placement.

In Practice

Astrologers using paranatellonta technique read Pegasus through Liber Hermetis: Ch. XXV (Aries paranatellonta) attests Pegasus at 28-30° Aries with per-degree interpretive doctrine ('stable boys, cattle thieves, donkey drivers'). Ch. III (Pisces risings) attests a sequence of Pegasus parts — 'latter parts (1°-3°)... middle parts (10°-12°)... head of Pegasus (13°-15°)' — alongside Beta Pegasi Scheat at 5°36' with Mercury-Mars nature, and the 'Perseus armed killing Pegasus' attestation at 25-27°. Egyptian-tradition readings place Pegasus within the boreal constellation-area called 3xwj (the Two Spirits): Belmonte-Lull Table 4.7 identifies '3xwj (the Two Spirits) = area of Pegasus/Sculptor/Pisces' in the consolidated star-asterism-constellation identification table.

Historical Origin

The Pegasus paranatellonta + Scheat doctrine is attested in Liber Hermetis Chs. III and XXV (Alexandrian-era Hermetic synthesis, preserved in Zoller's Project Hindsight translation of the Gundel 1936 Latin edition). The 3xwj = Pegasus-area identification is documented in Belmonte and Lull's *Astronomy of Ancient Egypt* (Springer 2023) Table 4.7.

Etymology

Origin: Greek / Latin. Meaning: From Greek Πήγασος (Pḗgasos); Latin Pegasus. Conventionally derived from the Greek mythological reception of the winged horse sprung from the blood of Medusa at Perseus's killing..

Further Reading

  • Robert Zoller, Liber Hermetis
  • Juan Antonio Belmonte & José Lull, Astronomy of Ancient Egypt